CPD and the maritime skills revolution

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development and is the term used to describe the learning activities professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities. As we look to the importance of maritime CPD, we should assess not only the impact on seafarers themselves, or even on their companies, but for the wider industry too.

So, what does CPD mean to the shipping industry as a whole? What benefits come with people who pursue higher standards, who engage and commit to pushing themselves forward? Well, perhaps that question frames the discussion perfectly, as it is all about a skills revolution and striving for higher standards.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION: For any industry, the recruitment and retention of good people are important. In shipping that is perhaps even more vital, as it takes so long to mature top professionals. The nature of what ships do and how they do it, the remote nature, the technical complexity, and the harsh conditions, with so little room for error. It is not just at sea, but ashore too where there is a need for in-depth knowledge and experience, which takes time to acquire.

TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION: In today’s technologically advanced world, seafarers remain at the core of all that shipping can deliver. These are the people who face and overcome immense challenges to get their cargoes and ships where they need to be. As stated by the International Chamber of Shipping in their guide on “Catalysing the Fourth Propulsion Revolution https://www.ics-shipping.org/publication/catalysing-the-fourth-propulsion-revolution/ the changing operational landscape within shipping is moving incredibly rapidly. This means that all too often, policy, rules, and certification can sometimes lag. So, CPD is a vital part of seafaring today.

GREENER SHIPPING: We are at a time when the speed and scale of transformation have never been greater. This greener, environmentally friendly pursuit has propelled us to a skills evolution, as we deal with such huge advances in communication and connectivity. That is why so much focus on CPD, as a commitment to improving, learning and growing means better people, safer ships, and enhanced performance. It is about a rising tide of standards that lift us from competence alone to excellence.