Preparing seafarers for the energy transition

Seafarers are central to maritime safety and the sustainable operation of ships. Their expertise and resilience underpin the shipping industry’s ability to adapt to change.

Recognizing this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working to ensure seafarers are well prepared for the energy transition in shipping, in line with the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships.

This includes laying the foundations for harmonised global training standards for seafarers working on ships powered by alternative fuels and new technologies, through the ongoing development of interim training guidelines, the expansion of capacity-building programmes, and close collaboration with industry and academia.

Regulatory developments: Interim generic training guidelines issued

IMO has issued STCW.7/Circ.25 (September 2025) on Generic interim guidelines on training for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies.

Recognising the urgent need for guidance on the development and approval of training for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies, the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 11) agreed in February 2025 that training provisions should be delivered through:

Generic interim guidelines applicable across the industry and relevant to all alternative fuels and technologies; and
Fuel/technology-specific interim guidelines, aligned with safety provisions developed by other IMO bodies.

With the generic interim guidelines now finalised, IMO Member States and NGOs are now advancing their work on developing on fuel- and technology-specific provisions. A correspondence group is preparing interim guidelines for methyl/ethyl alcohol, ammonia, hydrogen, LPG, battery-powered ships and fuel cells, for submission to the 12th session of the Sub-Committee in 2026 (HTW 12) (HTW 12/7).

These efforts are progressing in parallel to IMO’s comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, with the interim guidelines expected to form the basis for the development of mandatory requirements under the revised instruments.

Capacity development with Member States and industry

Alongside the regulatory progress, IMO is working with interested Member States to develop capacity and provide practical training opportunities.

Training on LNG-fuelled ships

Under the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, specific provisions (regulation V/3 and associated sections of the Code) require seafarers serving on ships subject to the IGF Code to complete mandatory training, supported by IMO model courses 7.13 and 7.14 on basic and advanced training. These requirements ensure that masters, officers, ratings and other personnel acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the safe operation of LNG-fuelled ships.

To support Member States in meeting these requirements, IMO is implementing a three-year capacity-development project, delivered under IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). Co-organised with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with support from the Nippon Foundation, the Japan Ship Technology Research Association and the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers, the project has provided seafarer trainers from Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam with advanced training for LNG-fuelled ships, following the requirements of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, using IMO’s model courses 7.13 and 7.14 as a reference.

The training combines classroom lectures on LNG operations and safety, LNG bunkering simulator training and emergency response exercises. This practical approach gives participants hands-on experience with bunkering operations, firefighting and personal protective equipment (PPE), enhancing their ability to deliver training in their home institutions.

Collaboration with the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF)

IMO contributes to the work of the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF), a global task force established by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the United Nations Global Compact, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) and IMO, dedicated to enabling a just energy transition for the maritime sector.

In particular, IMO Secretariat contributed to a project on 'Baseline training framework for seafarers in decarbonization', in close collaboration with the World Maritime University (WMU). This project, in conjunction with developments by MJTTF, has supported the development of learning materials and instructors’ handbook focussed on training for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels, and contributed to discussions during HTW 11. Draft training materials were piloted through a Train-the-Trainer programme at WMU in December 2024, and further used in a training course at the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Asia in April 2025.

The MJTTF launched a set of training frameworks in September 2025 to provide specialized guidance for seafarers, maritime Administrations, Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions, and shipping companies on developing and delivering training programmes for seafarers working on ammonia, methanol and hydrogen-powered ships. These frameworks could also serve as input to the review process of the 1978 STCW Convention and Code, including through the submission of documents to IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping.

The launch of the MJTTF frameworks at London International Shipping Week 2025 highlights the growing collaboration between IMO, industry, and academia to place seafarers at the centre of shipping’s decarbonisation.

GreenVoyage2050 Programme support

IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme, together with the GIZ’s International Power-to-X Hub, has launched a Training-of-Trainers Programme, with the first course held in July 2025, focusing on renewable Power-to-X. The programme aims to equip trainers in developing countries with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver locally relevant courses on alternative fuels, including safety considerations.

The Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA) under the GreenVoyage2050 programme and in partnership with CIMAC, is developing an Alternative Fuels Learning Portal. The portal will provide structured learning modules covering a range of alternative fuels. Each module will address key aspects of fuel handling and operations - including introduction to the fuel, operations underway and alongside, maintenance and emergency procedures - while also linking to existing literature, videos, images and materials developed by the MJTTF.

The portal is aimed at seafarers, harbour masters, shore staff and policymakers and focuses on building capacity for the safe operation of alternative-fuelled ships. The first module, on methanol, will be released by the end of 2025, with further fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen to follow in 2026.

Supporting Member States

The IMO Secretariat continues to collaborate closely with Member States and international organizations to expedite and enhance capacity for training seafarers operating alternative-fuelled ships, to meet the maritime industry's need for skilled and qualified personnel. Proactive and coordinated actions have been taken, going beyond traditional training to include strengthening policy frameworks, institutional readiness and collaboration between Administrations, training institutions and industry.

Through its Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP), IMO also fosters dialogue between regulators, Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions and industry, to help ensure that regulatory decisions are informed not only by global guidance, but also by practical operational experience.

As part of this commitment, in July 2025, IMO and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, under Singapore-IMO Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), co-organized a seminar in conjunction with Singapore’s International Safety@Sea Conference. The event provided a platform for Administrations, METs and industry stakeholders to explore the practical application of IMO’s interim guidelines on alternative fuels through simulator demonstrations, live methanol firefighting exercises and VR-based training tools.

Pathway to a just and prepared transition

Regulatory actions, capacity development and industry partnerships (including via Low Carbon GIA) are key elements in the transition pathway: interim guidance developed by IMO is being piloted, implemented and refined through extensive engagement and collaboration with Member States, academia and industry. This collaborative approach sets the foundation for valuable insights, practices and lessons learned to be incorporated into the review of the STCW Convention and Code.

Through these intensified efforts, the IMO Secretariat is supporting Member States in preparing to adapt to shifts in the sector, while establishing harmonized global standards that will equip seafarers with the competencies required to safely and effectively operate the ships of the future.

Generic interim guidelines on training for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies (STCW.7/Circ.25)
MJTTF training frameworks and instructor handbooks for seafarers