Page 27: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Sep/Oct 2019)

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AGE OF DISRUPTION

Maritime 4.0, a changing workforce and the rise of new skills STEM (Science, Technology,

The maritime industry is no exception to the trends above. The Engineering and Mathematics) subjects will increase as jobs sector is entering what has been dubbed Maritime 4.0, includ- become more skilled and data driven in response to new tech- ing the emergence of autonomous ships, “connected” ports and nology. Roles will be multidisciplinary, potentially requiring the harbors, and the growth of alternative fuels and green ship tech- ability to create, operate and maintain autonomous and techno- nology. These are developments which have not been around for logical systems. long and making sure personnel are kept on top of these rapid To add to this complexity, we are witnessing profound advancements is a major challenge. changes to the structure of the maritime workforce, particu-

According to the Department for Transport’s Maritime 2050 larly from a demographic point of view. Crews have become strategy document, the skills profle of the maritime sector will fully internationalized with an explosion in the number of sea- change signifcantly over the next 30 years. The importance of farers hailing from Ukraine, Russia and China. Alongside that, www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 27

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