As the maritime industry transitions to a low and zero-carbon future, African policymakers are being advised to implement training infrastructure as quickly as possible to maximise ‘high-quality’ employment opportunities for African workers and facilitate the continent’s green transition.
During a panel discussion at the recent ‘Unlocking Green Maritime Jobs’ conference, speakers outlined the growing demand for seafarers able to handle low and zero-carbon fuels (such as hydrogen and ammonia) and new technologies that will be needed in order to progress towards a decarbonised maritime shipping sector by 2050.
Negotiations will be conducted by International Maritime Organization member states this July to consider a target for net-zero emissions for shipping by 2050, in line with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
Were this to be adopted, seafarer supply countries that take early action are likely to reap significant socio-economic benefits, says the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
“In fact, research commissioned by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force has found up to 800 000 seafarers could require additional training by the mid-2030s to use these low- to zero-carbon fuels under the possible net-zero target.”
Africa is well positioned to be a green seafarer hub, says South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) occupational health and safety and maritime welfare manager, Sibusiso Rantsoabe.
“There is currently unprecedented demand for African seafarers and the urgent need to decarbonise creates further opportunities for our workers, who have already demonstrated their excellence in a global setting. Becoming a supply hub for the seafarers of the future is a win-win situation that will not only benefit African countries through the creation of good quality jobs, but the entire world by lowering the environmental impact of human actions. This presents an opportunity for Africa to ensure that we are not left behind but also cement our place as a potential new crewing frontier for shipping,” he says.
In fact, there are some noteworthy initiatives already in place. The National Seafarer Development Programme (NSDP), run by the South African International Maritime Institute (Saimi), is a regional effort that is empowering the deck, engine room and fishing crew of the future and creating good jobs for workers. Saimi and the International Maritime Employers Council (Imec) are also due to launch an Imec South African cadet training programme this year, with the first group of 50 cadets starting this month.
Imec CEO, Francesco Gargiulo, explains: “As an organisation that represents over 260 maritime employers around the globe and works to negotiate fair and sustainable seafarers’ wages and conditions of employment on their behalf; it is clear to us that shipping’s decarbonisation journey will be powered by human beings. The industry is already experiencing a need for sufficient skilled workers to operate modern vessels, and this will only continue to grow over the coming years. As a potential major seafarer supply continent, developing the talent of African seafarers offers us a pathway to delivering a greener future for shipping and the wider maritime world.”
