ETF Maritime

12/06/2026

Last week at , Nikolaos Koletsis, ETF Senior Policy Officer for Maritime Transport, joined the Lloyd's Register stand for a day devoted to maritime skills and training.

Together with Luisa Puccio, Senior Director for Shipping Policy and Communications, European Shipowners | ECSA, and under the moderation of Anastasia Kouvertari, Human Competency Senior Lead, Lloyd's Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, the session explored the work of the European Maritime Skills Forum (EMSF), its structure, development, and the preliminary findings emerging from its workstreams with key challenges including:

• consistent training challenges which are slowing green‑skills readiness
•the absence of a standardised curriculum across maritime academies, creating fragmentation
• a shortage of trainers with expertise in green technologies, which is limiting the ability to scale high‑quality instruction
• the fact that interpersonal skills are becoming as critical as technical competencies in supporting the maritime green transition

Nikolaos Koletsis stressed that the skills debate cannot be separated from the recruitment and retention crisis currently affecting the maritime sector:

“Without people, even the most advanced skills system cannot function.
We can’t provide top-level skills without offering workers strong career prospects and the right working conditions.
The Competitiveness of the European shipping must be built on: good jobs, fair wages, safe working conditions, strong worker protections, opportunities for young and diverse workers”

11/06/2026

Before two important fisheries events this week, our Senior Policy Officer for Fisheries, Andrea Albertazzi highlighted the urgent need to put people back at the centre of EU fisheries policy.

At the UILAPESCA Congress in Italy, he stressed that the European Commission's own evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy acknowledges that the social dimension of fisheries has been neglected. Social indicators point to a sector in dramatic decline, yet no concrete solutions or rule changes are proposed. Shifting responsibility solely onto Member States or the sector itself is not an acceptable response.

He also attended the Legacoop Nazionale yearly event in Brussels, where he voiced concerns from the ETF and our affiliates about the absence of a dedicated fisheries fund in the Commission's proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as well as the insufficient ring-fenced funding foreseen for the sector. If the EU wants to reverse the decline, attract young workers and secure the future of fisheries, it must invest in fleet renewal, quality jobs and the long-term sustainability of fishing communities.

Strong fisheries need strong social policies and adequate funding to make them a reality.

10/06/2026

📑The Council has adopted conclusions on Europe's Maritime Industrial Strategy and Port Strategy.

⚓️ETF welcomes the recognition of skills, workforce development, resilience and industrial capacity, but reminds policymakers that these strategies can only succeed if workers are at their core. Quality jobs, fair working conditions, collective bargaining, social dialogue and a just transition must be central to the implementation of both strategies.

Investment in infrastructure must go hand in hand with investment in people. Read ETF's full response to the Council Conclusions on Europe's Maritime Industrial and Port Strategies: https://www.etf-europe.org/etf-response-to-the-council-conclusions-on-europes-maritime-industrial-and-port-strategies/

08/06/2026

The EU's recognition of Serbian inland navigation certificates is a welcome step for worker mobility and sector integration. But qualification recognition must go hand in hand with fair working conditions and equal treatment for all.

Our take is in the comments. 👇

05/06/2026

In the run up to the Congress of the Профспілка робітників морського транспорту України - ПРМТУ next week, the ETF was honoured to participate in the conference of the Local Black Sea Transport Union of Seafarers (LBSTUS) / Локальна чорноморська профспілкова організація моряків (ЛЧПОМ) — MTWTU’s largest local trade union organisation.

Speaking at the conference, ETF Head of Maritime Transport Josef Maurer expressed the solidarity of the ETF’s 5 million transport workers with Ukrainian seafarers and transport workers. He underlined the courage of trade unionists in Ukraine, where defending workers’ rights is not only about risking your job, but sometimes your life. Josef also highlighted the growing pressures facing seafarers worldwide. Recent research commissioned together with the World Maritime University shows that seafarers work on average nearly 75 hours per week — far beyond what is considered decent working time — while many protections available to land-based workers still do not apply at sea. As the maritime sector undergoes rapid technological and environmental transformation, ETF stressed the urgent need for investment in skills, training, recruitment and retention. Without decent working conditions, fair wages, safety and respect for collective bargaining, the future of maritime transport is at risk. The ETF also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukrainian unions throughout the EU accession process and ensuring that Ukrainian seafarers have a strong voice in shaping the future of maritime labour in Europe. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Conference took place simultaneously in Chisinau and Odessa, connected through a livestream.

We warmly congratulate Oleg Grygoriuk, Chair of MTWTU, on his re-election as Chair of LBSTUS.

“𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦.”

Слава Україні! Героям слава!

03/06/2026

⚓️Every day, dock workers perform essential work in challenging and dynamic environments.

🛟Through our new safety project “Working Together Much Safer”, we aim to strengthen workplace safety by providing practical, worker-focused training that addresses real challenges faced in ports and terminals.

The project will encompass training sessions, offer a platform for workers to exchange knowledge and best practices and finally lead to the launch of a European-wide network for safety in ports.

🤝Together, we can help build a stronger safety culture across the sector.

We’re kicking off the project with a first safety training for our affiliates in July. Stay tuned for upcoming project updates!

🇪🇺With the financial support of the European Union.

European Commission

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

Panel discussion spotlight

💬How do long working hours, insufficient rest and disrupted sleep affect seafarers’ health, safety and decision-making at sea?

Tomorrow, at the ETF event on decent working time for sea workers, experts from international organisations, maritime health, insurance and fatigue risk management will address a critical issue for the maritime sector.

The discussion will feature:
Beatriz Vacotto (ILO)
Lorraine Hager
Philippe Cabon

Moderated by Mark Dickinson

⏳ Only one day to go until we continue the conversation on fatigue, working time and decent work at sea.

19/05/2026

🚨2 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧!⚓

In just two days, the ETF event presenting the WMU report “Charting the Distinct Rights of Sea Workers in European Waters - A Focus on Decent Working Time” will bring together trade unions, policymakers, maritime experts, and international organisations in Brussels.

📅 21 May 2026
📍 Thon Hotel EU, Brussels

We’re proud to welcome an outstanding line-up of keynote speakers and experts. Today, we introduce our keynote speakers:

Beatriz Vacotto, Head of the Maritime Unit, International Labour Standards Department, International Labour Office (ILO)

Andrei Mungiu, Deputy Head of the Maritime Safety Unit (Waterborne), European Commission DG Mobility & Transport

18/05/2026

📢 The evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) clearly shows that the social cost paid by fishers and fisheries workers can no longer be ignored.

Over the years, the sector has made major sacrifices through reduced fishing effort, fewer vessels and significant job losses. Yet workers continue to face declining employment, stagnant wages, ageing fleets, deteriorating working conditions and shrinking profitability.

Today we released ETF's reaction to the Commission's evaluation of the CFP, noting that sustainability cannot rely on environmental objectives alone. We call on the EU to ensure a truly balanced approach that gives equal importance to the social, economic and environmental pillars.

EU fisheries play a strategic role in food security, employment and coastal communities. Future policies must support growth, investment, innovation and better working and living conditions for crews.

Read more in our article: https://www.etf-europe.org/evaluation-of-the-common-fisheries-policy-shows-the-social-dimension-has-been-neglected/
Download our full reaction:https://www.etf-europe.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026.05.06-ETF-Reaction-Paper-to-CFP-Evaluation.pdf