(NEWS) WMU Hosts METAVASEA Workshop on People-Centred Maritime Decarbonization

October

2026

WMU Hosts METAVASEA Workshop on People-Centred Maritime Decarbonization

The World Maritime University (WMU)-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) hosted the hybrid METAVASEA International Workshop, “People-Centred Maritime Decarbonization: From East Mediterranean Findings to Global Pathways”, on 2 October at WMU. Organized in collaboration with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), the workshop formed part of METAVASEA (People-centred Transition for Maritime Decarbonization in the East Mediterranean), a project exploring the human dimensions of the transition to low- and zero-carbon maritime fuels and technologies.

WMU President Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. and Professor Ronán Long, Director of WMU-GOI, delivered opening remarks alongside Dr. Tim Slingsby, Director of Skills and Education at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and Ms. Olga Stavropoulou, General Manager of HELMEPA. The remarks highlighted the importance of placing people at the heart of maritime decarbonization, recognizing the needs and experiences of seafarers, port workers, maritime professionals and coastal communities. Skills development and accessible training were emphasized as essential to a safe and sustainable transition.

Discussions focused on the implications of METAVASEA survey findings, based on responses from approximately 2,500 seafarers and shipping and port executives. Key themes included the need for accessible education and training, the development of technical, digital and green skills, and the importance of addressing seafarer well-being and safety as the maritime sector decarbonizes. Participants also examined how experiences from the Eastern Mediterranean could inform the transition in other regions, alongside broader questions of climate justice and the fair distribution of its costs and benefits.

The workshop also previewed People-Centred Transition in Maritime Decarbonization & Climate Justice, a forthcoming edited volume that forms part of the METAVASEA project deliverables. The volume brings together international perspectives on the human dimensions of maritime decarbonization.

Nearly 200 participants registered to join online, reflecting broad interest in the human dimensions of maritime decarbonization. METAVASEA is coordinated by HELMEPA in cooperation with six partners and 12 associate partners, with support from Lloyd’s Register Foundation. WMU’s Principal Investigators for the project are Dr. Tafsir Matin Johansson and Dr. Aspasia Pastra.

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