SEA4SHORE

Seafarers Experience Appealing For Shore

SEA4SHORE

Seafarers Experience Appealing For Shore

SEA4SHORE Final Conference to Be Held in Riga, Latvia

Navigating the Shift: From Sea to Shore Careers

The SEA4SHORE Project Final Conference will take place on 26 February 2026 at the Riga Technical University Scientific Library in Riga, Latvia. This milestone event marks the culmination of the SEA4SHORE partnership’s collaborative efforts to strengthen sustainable career pathways for seafarers across Europe.

Bringing together maritime professionals, educators, policy makers, industry representatives, and project partners, the conference will present the project’s key outcomes and foster dialogue on improving the recognition and transferability of seafaring competences into shore-based employment.

Supporting Sustainable Maritime Careers

The maritime profession is both essential and demanding. While it offers valuable technical and transversal skills, many seafarers eventually consider transitioning ashore due to personal, professional, or long-term career considerations.

SEA4SHORE addresses this reality by developing:

  • A comprehensive online platform mapping seafaring skills to shore-based professions
  • An innovative career compatibility assessment tool
  • Structured resources supporting informed sea-to-shore career transitions
  • Policy and VET-level recommendations to enhance labour mobility within the maritime sector

The project’s core objective is not to encourage leaving the sea, but to strengthen the attractiveness and sustainability of maritime careers by offering clarity, long-term perspective, and structured alternatives.

Conference Programme Highlights

The Final Conference will open with institutional remarks by Vija Jurševica, SEA4SHORE Project Leader from Riga Technical University, who will also deliver a keynote presentation on recognising and valuing seafarers’ competences in shore-based careers.

The programme will include:

  • SEA4SHORE Project Overview presented by
    Mr. Ugurcan Acar, Founder & Managing Director of MARITIME INNOVATORS
  • Live Demonstration of the SEA4SHORE Tool by
    Capt. Djani Mohovic, Full Professor at the University of Rijeka
  • Authority Perspectives and Former Seafarer Testimonials, featuring representatives from:
    • Latvian Maritime Association
    • Latvian Ship Crewing Companies Association (LATCREWCOMPASS)
    • Maritime Administration of Latvia
    • Riga Port Pilot Service
    • Former Member of the Latvian Parliament (Saeima)

A moderated international partner panel titled “From Sea to Shore – National Perspectives” will bring together representatives from Latvia, Türkiye, Croatia, Lithuania, Spain, and Greece. The session will explore country-specific challenges, policy insights, and practical experiences related to maritime career transitions.

The event will conclude with key takeaways and a networking reception, providing space for professional exchange and future collaboration.

A European Collaboration

SEA4SHORE is a collaborative European initiative involving partners from:

  • Latvia
  • Türkiye
  • Croatia
  • Lithuania
  • Spain
  • Greece

Throughout the project lifecycle, national dissemination events have been organised across partner countries to promote the project results locally. The Final Conference in Riga represents the collective European dimension of these efforts and serves as the official platform to present the consolidated outcomes of the project.

Event Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2026
🕐 Time: 13:00 – 16:00 (EET)
📍 Venue: Riga Technical University Scientific Library
📍 Location: Paula Valdena Street 5, Riga LV-1048, Latvia

The conference is expected to host at least 50 participants and will serve as an important networking opportunity for stakeholders committed to strengthening maritime workforce sustainability.

Registration is FREE!

As the maritime sector evolves, supporting structured career mobility is essential to maintaining its attractiveness for future generations. SEA4SHORE demonstrates how digital tools, cross-sector collaboration, and policy dialogue can contribute to more resilient and future-proof maritime careers.

The Riga Final Conference will not only showcase project achievements, it will also open discussions on long-term sustainability and continued cooperation beyond the project’s duration.

Link to Registration: https://sea4shore.com/final-conference/

SEA4SHORE Final Conference to Be Held in Riga, Latvia
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