SEA4SHORE National Event – Spain
Present and Future of Spanish Merchant Marines
The SEA4SHORE national event in Spain presented the project’s results and opened a wider discussion on the current and future challenges of the merchant marine. The event brought together maritime professionals, academics, and sector representatives to address competence, retention, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and the growing importance of structured transition pathways from sea-based careers to shore-based roles.
Hosted by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Conference Programme
The programme combined keynote presentations and expert discussions addressing the future of the Spanish merchant marine, workforce challenges, and the evolving skill requirements of maritime professionals.
Participant Arrival & Registration
Dr. Germán de Melo – President, College of Officers of the Spanish Merchant Marine
Dr. Juan Antonio Moreno Martínez – Dean, Barcelona School of Nautical Studies
Key elements for ensuring competence and retention of seafarers
Dr. Ismael Cobos – IMO Maritime Safety Division
A strategic profession for addressing European challenges
Mr. Nereo Arranz – Maritime Safety Administration
Operational efficiency in the digital age
Captain Alejandro Pérez Pastor – Balearia
Current and future vision of the Spanish merchant marine
Nuria Blanco – Technical Director, Ship Repair Sector
Presentation of the SEA4SHORE project
Dr. Germán de Melo Rodríguez
Panel discussion with keynote speakers followed by networking session and informal exchange among participants.
Conference Archive Notice
This page presents the completed SEA4SHORE National Event in Spain as part of the project results. The original pre-event registration and announcement page is preserved as an archive for documentation and transparency purposes.
Registration is no longer active. To review the original event announcement and registration information, please access the archived registration page below.
Conference Outputs & Materials
The Spain national event contributed to the dissemination of SEA4SHORE project results and highlighted the strategic relevance of seafarer retention, digitalisation, upskilling, and structured transition pathways from sea to shore.
Conference Video
The video below captures the Spain national event and provides an additional record of the conference discussions and dissemination activities.
Conference Summary & Key Insights
The Spain national event combined project dissemination with a broader discussion on the strategic future of the merchant marine, the retention of qualified seafarers, and the need for modernised training and transition pathways.
Purpose of the Event
The event had two main objectives: first, to present the SEA4SHORE Erasmus+ project and its role in supporting transitions from sea-based careers to shore-based professions; and second, to host a discussion on the present and future of the merchant marine, including labour conditions, safety, training, digitalisation, and career opportunities.
Main Themes Discussed
- Competence, retention, and working conditions of seafarers
- The strategic relevance of maritime professions for Europe
- Digitalisation, data-driven operations, and operational efficiency
- Continuous learning and adaptation to new fuels and new technologies
- The growing importance of transition pathways from sea to shore
Highlights from the Speakers
Dr. Ismael Cogo addressed the importance of competence and retention, pointing to the continued challenges posed by long contracts, limited welfare, poor internet access, and insufficient manning levels. He stressed that better conditions are essential if the sector wishes to improve competence and long-term career appeal.
Nereo Arán underlined the merchant marine as a strategic profession for Europe, linking maritime employment to supply chains, sustainability, and future European competitiveness. He also highlighted the need for large-scale upskilling in response to digitalisation and decarbonisation.
Alejandro Pérez Pastor demonstrated how digital tools, real-time monitoring, and data analytics are transforming operational efficiency in shipping. His contribution emphasised that future maritime professionals will increasingly need digital and business-oriented competences in addition to traditional technical expertise.
Nuria Blanco offered an optimistic view of maritime careers, stressing the value of nautical education in preparing professionals for leadership, technical responsibility, and systems thinking. She highlighted that new fuels, automation, and environmental requirements are opening new professional pathways rather than narrowing them.
SEA4SHORE Project Relevance
The event also included a dedicated presentation of the SEA4SHORE project, explaining its objective to support seafarers by identifying more than 125 shore-based professions where maritime experience is valuable and by providing orientation based on individual competencies and transferable skills.
Audience Perspective
Participants raised concerns related to the cost of maritime education, limited access to sea-time for cadets, labour market difficulties, and insufficient welfare. These concerns were acknowledged by the speakers as real and persistent issues affecting the wider sector.
General Conclusions
The conference concluded that the maritime sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digitalisation, decarbonisation, and changing logistics demands. While shortages of qualified seafarers persist, retaining European talent remains a key challenge. Better working conditions, modernised training, digital and environmental skills, and support for mobility between sea and shore were identified as essential priorities for the future.
Overall message: The merchant marine remains strategically vital for Europe, but its future depends on improving the treatment of seafarers, strengthening modern and flexible training systems, and creating realistic and visible pathways between sea-going and shore-based careers.
About the SEA4SHORE Project
The SEA4SHORE project aims to bridge the gap between seafaring experience and shore-based employment opportunities. By developing a comprehensive platform and a soft skills assessment tool, the project provides seafarers with the resources needed to identify and pursue new career paths, supporting professional transitions and enhancing maritime labour market mobility.