(NEWS) WMU Launches Pioneering Training on Shipping Alternative Fuels

December

2024

WMU Launches Pioneering Training on Shipping Alternative Fuels

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From 17-18 December, the World Maritime University (WMU) delivered a Train-the-Trainer programme designed to equip maritime educators with the essential knowledge and pedagogical skills necessary to effectively train seafarers on alternative fuels, including ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. The two-day training was held at WMU’s headquarters in Malmö, Sweden.

The training is a key component of the "Baseline Training Framework for Seafarers in Decarbonization" project, commissioned by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJT-TF). The project is a collaborative effort involving numerous stakeholders, such as the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), and Lloyd's Register Foundation. It aims to develop a baseline training framework to equip seafarers with the skills required as the shipping industry transitions to zero greenhouse gas emissions.

In line with the purpose of the project, WMU’s Train-the-Trainer programme empowers trainers to facilitate this shift by addressing both educational and technical aspects of alternative fuels. The training materials used in the programme are aligned with research outcomes of the previous project phase, namely the MJT consolidated report, including the list of competencies and knowledge, understanding, and proficiency that are suggested for seafarers to safely operate alternative-fueled ships. The report is the result of a series of workshops conducted by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, focused on gathering expert knowledge about ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen.

As the global maritime sector intensifies efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the adoption of alternative fuels has become a critical component of achieving sustainability targets. The Train-the-Trainer programme delivered at WMU is one of the pioneering steps to deepen understanding of training in alternative fuels.

The training was delivered to 26 WMU MSc students who are maritime professionals specializing in Maritime Education and Training (MET) and Maritime Energy Management (MEM). The programme covered an introduction to alternative fuels, focusing on their properties, environmental impacts, and training methodologies tailored to seafarers and shore-based personnel. An in-depth exploration followed regarding safety protocols, emergency responses, and advanced bunkering procedures related to ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen.

WMU faculty involved in the delivery of the training include Professor Momoko Kitada, Professor Aykut I. Ölcer, Professor Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs, Professor Dimitrios Dalaklis, Professor Dong Cheng, Associate Professor Alessandro Schönborn, Lecturer Anne Pazaver, and Research Assistant Hoang Nguyen Vuong. WMU also welcomed two observers, Ms. Alishba Zaman from United Nations Global Compact and Mr. Matt Dunlop from the Fonden Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.Outcomes from this trial training will directly contribute to the Train-the-Trainer in Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Asia, diffusing the impact of the MJT-TF – IMO project and furthering global efforts to create a foundation for alternative fueled training as an essential step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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