It is known that the generation of seafarers who will be sailing in the following years, is being born into a world where eSports are as popular as regular sports, work and school can be conducted remotely and the internet can provide everything, from communication, entertainment to food, on-demand.
As a result of the digitalization era and due to improved connectivity, remote monitoring, remote-control ships and remote pilotage will become more widespread.
At the same time, automation will doubtless change many aspects of life at sea, but for those who remain at sea, many of these changes will be for the better. To remind, between 2003 and 2012, seafarers were 21.6 times more likely to die in workplace accidents than those in the general workforce ashore. As automation takes over the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks, from watchkeeping to tank inspections, seafarers will be free to focus on the safer and more interesting tasks.
What is more, according to a report from Inmarsat, the port technologies are expected to reduce port turnaround times and low crewing levels making shore leave impractical. In fact, those who physically go to sea in 2050 will spend most of their time on board. As explained, better living conditions help to mitigate the challenges of being stuck on a ship, but strong people skills are just as important.
‘In the future, going to sea is more likely to be a stepping-stone to a career ashore. With smaller crews, fewer people will have the opportunity for practical seagoing experience; those that do may find their skills are more in demand when they are ready to transition into shore-based roles such as shore control stations. With high-demand for seafarers ashore, it is possible they will no longer be forced to choose between family and career.’
…Inmarsat notes.
Further on, smaller crews, alternative fuels, wind-assisted ships, and more complex on-board technology will be the norm. This combination means that the seafarers of the future will need a higher level of technical training than seafarers today.
Even in 2021, small crews have more interdepartmental cooperation and less job-demarcation than large crews. In 2050, seafarer training will likely reflect this, with less specialization, more flexibility, and more emphasis on continuous professional development (CPD).
As Inmarsat explains, seafarer training will therefore likely focus on making the best use of the assistive technologies.
‘Just as celestial navigation is taught as a fallback navigation method today, we could see the basics of electronics and manual fault-finding taught as a fallback in 2050. As the role of seafarers onboard moves to one that is more focused on monitoring, they will have less opportunity to practice and develop hands-on skills. Virtual reality and advanced simulation will help to bridge that gap’.
Overall, there is no doubt that industry will need to invest heavily in the skills shift and ensure that everyone involved in the operation or maintenance of the shipping fleet has the hard skills they need to do the job.
