Education and upskilling of NextGen seafarers in focus at Eugenides Foundation event at Posidonia

The Eugenides Foundation, together with leading representatives of international maritime education and industry, provided substantive answers to the top challenge of the need to train and upgrade the skills of the next generation of seafarers, through a high-level event in the context of the major international maritime exhibition Posidonia 2026.

Utilising 70 years of experience and contribution of the Eugenides Foundation in the education, knowledge and skills development of young people in Greece, as well as a network of important international partnerships, the event entitled "Skilling and Upskilling the NextGen Seafarers: Eugenides Foundation Advances into the International Education Ecosystem", focused on the major changes shaping the future of shipping and maritime education.

In his opening remarks, the President of the Eugenides Foundation, Mr. Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides (pictured), stressed that “shipping is facing a period of profound transformation, as the green transition, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and new safety requirements are radically reshaping the sector”. As he pointed out, “the future of shipping will depend primarily on its people and their ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the times.”

Referring to the strategy of the Eugenides Foundation, he underlined the continuous strengthening of its international presence through partnerships with leading organisations and institutions, such as the World Maritime University, the Waterborne Technology Platform, the British Council and RINA. As he said, “only through close cooperation among the shipping industry, the academic community, international organisations and the state maritime education remain up to date and responsive to the needs created by technological, environmental and geopolitical developments”.

He made special reference to the internationally recognised Maritime English programme of the Eugenides Foundation, which provides modern digital education, assessment and certification of language skills in accordance with the standards of the IMO and the STCW Convention, in collaboration with the British Council and RINA.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Dimitriadis-Eugenides underlined that “investing in the new generation of seafarers is an investment in the sustainability, safety and competitiveness of global shipping, as, despite rapid technological progress, shipping will remain a people-driven industry over time”.