Who is going to operate the vessels of tomorrow?

Marine businesses are already competing for skilled people while facing rising employment costs, changing technology and an increasingly complex set of skills requirements. At the same time, attracting young people into commercial marine remains a challenge.

In this In Conversation session, we will look beyond the familiar headlines about the “skills shortage” and ask what is really happening on the ground.

What does the changing workforce mean for vessel operators? Which skills will tomorrow's vessels actually require? Can smaller businesses afford to train the next generation? Are apprenticeships delivering what industry needs? And what responsibility sits with employers, education providers and Government?

Most importantly, what can the commercial marine industry actually do differently?