Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Just Transition and the Social Impact of Decarbonization

Up to 800,000 seafarers could require professional retraining by the mid-2030s under a full-decarbonization scenario: the maritime sector's energy transition is also, and perhaps above all, a question of people.

Just Transition decarbonization crew training social impact

## Operational Explanation

The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF), a joint initiative of maritime industry employer and seafarer organizations with IMO support, deals specifically with the social impact of decarbonization on the global maritime workforce, estimated at around 1.9 million seafarers as of January 2025. Estimates of the training required vary significantly depending on the decarbonization scenario: from the more modest scenario (around 300,000 seafarers to be trained on new fuels and technologies), to the intermediate scenario (450,000 seafarers to be trained in 2030 alone), up to the full-decarbonization scenario (up to 800,000 seafarers to be retrained by the mid-2030s).

A peer-reviewed 2026 survey found that over 75% of respondents had no practical experience with LNG, batteries or synthetic fuels, and almost 87% of surveyed seafarers require partial or full training on ammonia, methanol and hydrogen; in the eastern Mediterranean, 64% of seafarers had received no decarbonization training in the two years prior to 2025. In September 2025 the MJTTF launched a set of dedicated training frameworks for these technologies, and the IMO's GreenVoyage2050 program, together with GIZ's Power-to-X Hub, launched a training-of-trainers program with the first course held in July 2025.

## Regulatory Reference

There is no binding IMO regulatory requirement specific to Just Transition; the topic is addressed through voluntary and guidance initiatives such as the Maritime Just Transition Task Force and the IMO GreenVoyage2050 training programs, in a context where uncertainty over the viability and actual adoption of the various alternative fuel options makes long-term workforce planning difficult.

## Scope of Application

Every shipping Company and every seafarer involved in the transition to ships fueled by alternative fuels, with particular attention to planning the necessary training and professional retraining.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Assess crew training needs in advance relative to the alternative fuels actually planned in the Company's fleet plan, not generically across all available technologies.
2. Consult the dedicated training frameworks developed by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force for ammonia, methanol and hydrogen, launched from September 2025.
3. Consider participating in training-of-trainers programs such as the GreenVoyage2050/Power-to-X Hub program, to build internal training capacity within the Company.
4. Plan professional retraining with adequate lead time before the entry into service of alternative-fuel ships, avoiding leaving training until just before ship delivery.
5. Monitor the evolution of the Company's decarbonization scenarios to promptly adjust its personnel training planning.

## Practical Example

Example: a Company planning delivery of three methanol-fueled ships over the next two years starts a dedicated training program for its engineering officers 18 months in advance, using the MJTTF training frameworks dedicated to methanol, rather than waiting for ship delivery to organize emergency training.

## Real Cases

A peer-reviewed survey published in 2026 in Frontiers in Marine Science found that over 75% of surveyed seafarers had no practical experience with LNG, batteries or synthetic fuels, and that almost 87% require partial or full training on ammonia, methanol and hydrogen: a skills gap that, if not addressed in time, risks becoming a concrete operational constraint as alternative-fuel ships enter service at growing scale.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Crew training on alternative fuels planned only just before delivery of the new ship, rather than with adequate lead time | Crew unprepared for the ship's entry into service, with concrete operational risk | Plan training well ahead of the alternative-fuel ship's entry into service
Training needs assessed generically across all alternative fuel technologies, rather than those actually planned in the fleet plan | Dispersal of training resources on technologies not relevant to the specific Company | Assess training needs specifically against the Company's real fleet plan
Dedicated training frameworks developed by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force not consulted before developing internal training programs | Less structured internal training programs not aligned with emerging industry standards | Always consult the MJTTF training frameworks as a reference before developing internal programs

## PSC Observations

Specific crew training on alternative fuels is not subject to a dedicated statutory PSC requirement at this stage, but the crew's demonstrated competence in managing the specific risks of the fuel used may emerge indirectly during a general inspection.

## Operational Tips

- Do not wait for delivery of the new alternative-fuel ship to start crew training: begin well in advance.
- Always consult the Maritime Just Transition Task Force's dedicated training frameworks before developing internal programs from scratch.
- Assess training needs specifically against the real fleet plan, not generically across all available technologies.

## Checklist

- Training needs assessed against the alternative fuels actually planned in the fleet plan
- Dedicated MJTTF training frameworks consulted as a reference
- Participation in training-of-trainers programs considered
- Professional retraining planned ahead of ships' entry into service
- Evolution of the Company's decarbonization scenarios monitored to adjust training

## FAQ

What is the Maritime Just Transition Task Force?
A joint initiative of maritime industry employer and seafarer organizations, with IMO support, dedicated specifically to the social impact of decarbonization on the global maritime workforce.
How many seafarers could require training or retraining for decarbonization?
Estimates range from around 300,000 in the more modest scenario, to 450,000 in 2030 alone under the intermediate scenario, up to 800,000 by the mid-2030s under the full-decarbonization scenario.
What percentage of seafarers require training on ammonia, methanol and hydrogen according to the 2026 survey?
Almost 87% of surveyed seafarers require partial or full training on these fuels, while over 75% had no practical experience with LNG, batteries or synthetic fuels.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Methanol and Ammonia Bunkering: Infrastructure and Real Cases Alternative Fuels and Operational Readiness

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