SEA4SHORE National Conference in Türkiye

Addressing Seafarer Retention Through Realistic and Sustainable Career Pathways

The SEA4SHORE National Conference will be held on Friday, 13 February 2026, Limak Euroasia Hotel Kavacik, Beykoz, İstanbul, Türkiye, bringing together maritime professionals, seafarers, industry experts, and institutional stakeholders to address one of the maritime sector’s most persistent challenges: declining seafarer retention and long-term workforce sustainability.

Developed within a European consortium comprising universities, vocational education and training providers, research organisations, and industry partners, the SEA4SHORE project reflects a shared recognition that promoting seafaring careers and supporting realistic, transparent career pathways are complementary not conflicting objectives.

While continued efforts to attract talent to sea-going professions remain essential, experience across Europe shows that a significant number of maritime professionals choose to leave sea-going roles at different stages of their careers. Ignoring this reality risks talent loss from the sector altogether. SEA4SHORE therefore focuses on retaining maritime expertise within the industry, by supporting informed career decisions and facilitating structured transitions to shore-based roles where appropriate.

Organised by MARITIME INNOVATORS, the conference offers a neutral platform for dialogue and experience-based discussion. The programme includes sector perspectives, presentations on the SEA4SHORE methodology and digital career compatibility tool, and a panel session dedicated to practical, real-world solutions informed by lived seafaring experience.

Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, SEA4SHORE is the result of collaborative work among European partners who continue to educate, train, and promote maritime professions, while also acknowledging the importance of adaptability and long-term career sustainability in a changing labour market.

By bringing together diverse viewpoints, the SEA4SHORE National Conference aims to contribute constructively to ongoing discussions on maritime human capital, ensuring that seafaring experience remains valued, visible, and connected to the broader maritime economy.

Further outcomes and insights from the conference will be shared following the event.

👉 Registration: https://sea4shore.com/turkiye-event/