Empowering Seafarers as Key Implementers of Green Maritime Technologies

Abstract

Despite the maritime industry's critical transition toward sustainability and the International Maritime Organization's ambitious emission reduction targets, a significant gap persists between the rapid advancement of green maritime technologies and seafarers' preparedness to implement them effectively. This study addresses this gap by examining how targeted vocational training programs can transform seafarers into competent implementers of green technologies. Using a qualitative research design, this study collected data from 45 maritime stakeholders—including industry professionals, maritime educators, and recent graduates—through semi-structured interviews and curriculum analysis across five Indonesian maritime institutions. The research evaluates training effectiveness through five key indicators: curriculum integration, operational competence, efficiency outcomes, curriculum development, and industry-academia collaboration. Findings reveal that structured green technology training significantly enhances both technical competence (8.8/10 effectiveness score) and operational outcomes, with participants reporting a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency and 15% reduction in emissions post-implementation. However, critical gaps remain in hands-on training opportunities (8.0/10) and resource accessibility (8.5/10). The study's novelty lies in its comprehensive framework linking educational interventions to measurable operational and environmental outcomes, demonstrating that seafarer empowerment requires simultaneous advancement in curriculum design, practical training infrastructure, and sustained industry-academia partnerships. These findings provide actionable strategies for maritime education institutions to align training programs with industry sustainability demands.