DCN takes a look at how the education and training sector is adapting to the needs of a rapidly changing maritime world
PORT officer trainee Abbey Hughes, aged 19, said a maritime career offers opportunities found in few other career paths.
“I love the range of opportunities within the industry. Maritime offers multiple career pathways and constant opportunities to develop new skills,” said Ms Hughes, who is employed by the Port Authority of New South Wales.
“There is also the chance to see the world and experience different cultures and working environments. No two days are the same and that ongoing learning is what motivates me most.”
Ms Hughes grew up around the maritime world and saw what the industry could offer.
“My dad has been my biggest influence. He spent much of his career at sea as a master mariner before becoming a marine pilot,” she said.
“My cousins are following a similar path and I hope to do the same.”
Maritime Industry Australia chief executive officer Angela Gillham hopes more young Australians like Abbey will seek out careers at or by the sea as the sector looks to grow its Australian operating base.
MIAL CEO Angela Gilham. Image: MIAL
She notes that in the immediate term it is likely there will be a shortage of seafarers, across all cohorts of those serving on board, particularly acute for deck officers and marine engineers who, with even modest experience at sea are highly sought after to work in the resources and energy sector, port services, regulatory compliance, education and training to name a few.
“Attracting and retaining these skills is critical to the industry both on board ships and throughout the broader Australian economy.
“It is these skills generally where MIAL’s advocacy is directed, however these are certainly not the only skills shortages that affect the sector,” Ms Gillham said.
A critical shortage of those able to perform electrical work on ships has been observed.
“Electricians are in incredibly high demand across the economy and electrical skills are transferable (although licencing less so) meaning there is significant competition from mining and construction for people with these skills,” Ms Gillham said.
Historic contraction in the industry also impacts skills development in important industries that supply services to the industry, such as logistics, ship repair and maintenance.
“Shortages exist across the industry, with a clear link to decades of decline and contraction of Australian shipping seeing less opportunities for Australian seafarers to progress their careers through the lack of growth,” Ms Gillham said.
“That situation has changed with the opportunity that exists now, in the form of emerging energy, decommissioning and the strategic fleet—training across all seafaring roles has picked up but for some of the higher qualifications, these take years to develop and we can’t just flick a switch.”
According to MIAL, there are several considerations which could improve industry skills outcomes.
“While we can’t go back in time 10 years and act with the urgency we are now seeing in the industry, we can be constructive with our thinking and approach,” Ms Gillham said.
“The traditional approach to seafarer training has been very employer reliant and high cost, a cost largely borne by ship operators. Increasing training could be achieved by users across the economy contributing to the training task, better coordination across the training journey from academic aspects to on board training, and clear and consistent pathways to access available funding through training arrangements for these critical maritime occupations.”
Ms Gillham said broader economic and industrial decarbonisation is seeing further competition for a skilled workforce across the Australian landscape.
“We are far from the only industry who will need a skilled workforce to achieve decarbonisation and potential careers in the maritime industry tend to be less visible to Australians than some other industries,” she said.
“Rapid uptake of new technologies, digitalisation and automation demands new competencies that current education pathways are not yet fully delivering.
“Again, uncertainty in international regulation is delaying action to develop and fund training to support these.
“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action across industry, government and education to modernise training, expand workforce pipelines and support a just transition.”
The Sea Heritage Foundation recently announced a new platinum partnership with Sierra Fleet Services and partners establishing a dedicated maritime training academy to meet the foundation’s objectives.
This partnership seeks to enable the expansion of the Foundation’s Indigenous maritime training programs through the establishment of a dedicated training academy and the enhancement of its broader maritime education services.
It also reinforces the Foundation’s long-term vision to become a leader in human-centred, industry best-practice maritime training.
Foundation chair CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg, said the partnership represents an important step forward in strengthening the organisation’s capacity and reach.
“This collaboration not only enhances our training capability but also supports the Foundation’s growing involvement in critical maritime research,” Dr Manjarres-Wahlberg said.
“We are excited about the opportunities this partnership creates for our trainees, our communities and the wider maritime sector.”
Sierra Fleet Services, a well-established provider of maritime solutions across Australia and Papua New Guinea for several decades, expressed strong support for the initiative. Fleet master and chief executive Harold Van Haltron said he looks forward to the impact the partnership will deliver.
“We are proud to support the Sea Heritage Foundation and contribute to meaningful, lasting change within the maritime industry,” Captain Van Haltron said.
“Together, we can help shape a safer, more skilled workforce for the future.”
The partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing maritime capability, fostering innovation, and strengthening pathways for Indigenous participation in the maritime domain.
AMC Search is the training and consultancy division of the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania.
AMC principal Mal Wise said AMCS has grown from a handful of employees in 1980 to almost 50 today, working across cutting edge concepts
Mr Wise said the concept grew from the demand for short courses.
AMC principal Mal Wise. Image: AMC
“There was growing demand for short courses. AMC had the skillset but not necessarily the capacity to respond to and that resulted in the establishment of AMC Search.”
He said there has been “steady growth” in the defence component of their work supporting the navy in training.
“In terms of innovation, the other area we have really grown from in the last 10 years would be autonomous vehicles, both surface and sub-surface,” he said.
“That is the training for them as well as developing technical services.”
Mr Wise said the growth of autonomous at the moment is exponential, with certifiers recently accrediting the first Certificate III in Autonomous Underwater Training.
He sees this a great example of effective collaboration with the AMC itself, leveraging its expertise to achieve better outcomes.
AMC Search has sought to expand in the area of online training, accommodating the needs of a large nation with a spread-out population.
“There is a real challenge in the maritime industry where we have a large continent and relatively small numbers of people so ideally [we do] as much online training as can be delivered which is really valuable to our industry partners,” he said.
“There are some limits to that. One of the strengths the AMC has is also its facilities so finding that balance between maximising online content and [providing] the training that AMC and AMC Search are recognised for is key.”
Asked about the implications of AI for their work, Mr Wise speaks of “enormous opportunity but also significant challenges”.
So far their focus has been on AI as a business efficiency tool rather than in terms of training “and that has been very valuable to us”, albeit there is a need for a safety net.
“In terms of training, I think that is an ongoing area of development,” noting the capabilities of their digital services team in “integrating AI in an appropriate way in training programs”.
“That [digital services team] really allows us to stay at the forefront of where AI is going and also at the same time to be acutely aware of some of the risks it represents,” he said.
“But it is definitely an area of continued expansion.”
Mr Wise said there is much to be excited about with the work of AMC Search “with just so much going on, whether in the national maritime industry, or in the defence sector”.
He said they recently started their Category “A” Hydrographic Survey Programme recognised by the International Board of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC).
This is the first IBSC-recognised Category “A” programme in Australia, representing a significant uplift in hydrographic education capability for Australia and the wider Australasian region.
“That is a sovereign course, we haven’t had one for quite a few years and we as the national institution have sought to rebuild that and make it available to the navy but also industry both domestically and internationally.
“It might not sound that sexy but these are the sorts of things that allow the maritime industry to grow and evolve in this country.”
Ross Brewer from Offshore and Specialist Ships Australia (OSSA) said with national prosperity tied with maritime trade, education was crucial.
“More than 90% of our trade moves by ship. Our coastal communities rely on ferries, fishing vessels, offshore supply ships, research vessels and harbour services. Yet despite this dependence, the Australian maritime industry remains largely invisible to the public—and almost entirely absent from our classrooms,” he said.
A four-day in-person dry dock training course is to be held from 14-17 April 2026 at Dowsing Point, Hobart. ADEC Kedge, a provider of marine surveying, naval architecture and marine assurance services throughout Australia, New Zealand, hosts the program in collaboration with DM Consulting, an internationally recognised provider of dry-docking technical training.
The course forms part of DM Consulting’s established global training schedule. It is accredited by both The Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SNAME) and The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). The content covers all key phases of the dry-docking process, including planning and preparation, docking and undocking procedures, safety considerations, lay-period management and a review of past incidents. Participants engage in technical exercises and applied calculations throughout the program.
Dry-docking involves a series of technically complex operations, and the course is designed to build participants’ understanding of key calculations, procedural requirements and decision-making considerations throughout each stage of the process.
“From a training industry perspective, we see that where there is an accident, people will enrol in our course immediately after. Unfortunately, that’s how it happens,” said Alex Stiglich, presenter and co-owner of DM Consulting.
The training is open to a wide range of maritime professionals, including marine surveyors, naval architects, dock masters, port engineers, shipyard management, project managers, insurance personnel and others involved in vessel docking, launching, or transfer operations. An online variant is also available for private groups of ten or more participants.
ADEC Kedge supports commercial vessel operators, regulators, insurers and maritime businesses with practical, compliance-focused technical solutions.
“This lack of awareness has consequences. Australia today faces a severe and growing shortage of qualified seafarers. While ships continue to operate across domestic trades—from fishing and passenger ferries to bulk carriers, harbour craft and scientific vessels—the workforce needed to crew them is ageing rapidly.”
Mr Brewer said the average age of Australian seafarers is now around 46. For ship masters and deck officers it is closer to 50 and for marine engineers it exceeds 55.
“Without urgent action, this looming skills gap threatens the resilience of an industry that underpins our economy and national capability,” he said.
“Despite this reality, maritime careers are rarely discussed in schools. For decades, entry into the industry has depended largely on family connections or chance exposure. Unlike aviation, defence or mining, maritime pathways are seldom promoted through structured career education. As a result, many students simply do not know these careers exist—let alone that they can offer long-term, well-paid and globally portable employment.”
This is a problem OSSA is working to solve.
Formed in 2017, OSSA’s original mission was to promote the Australian maritime industry and preserve its heritage. The organisation began by collecting, restoring and publicly displaying Australian maritime memorabilia. Today, OSSA-supported displays can be found in museums and seafarers’ missions across the country, helping reconnect the public with Australia’s maritime story.
But OSSA soon recognised that celebrating the past was not enough to secure the future.
With demand for seafarers increasing and the workforce ageing, the organisation turned its focus to education—specifically, introducing young Australians to maritime careers before they make decisions that shape their working lives.
OSSA board member, Ross Brewer
“Several years ago, OSSA began developing a dedicated Maritime School Program,” Mr Brewer said.
“Progress was not immediate. Schools are busy environments and new industries do not easily find space in established career frameworks. In 2018, OSSA approached the Career Education Association of Victoria (CEAV) to develop a structured approach aimed directly at career counsellors.”
This proved to be the catalyst. Via participation in CEAV Webinars and Conferences OSSA was able to meet with schools’ career advisers to explain the breadth of maritime careers and their long-term prospects.
Volunteerism sits at the heart of the program. OSSA members—experienced mariners and industry professionals—undertook Working With Children checks and began delivering presentations directly to students.
The first presentations were conducted in 2020 and were successful. Schools not only requested repeat visits but asked for OSSA to participate in career days in subsequent years.
“Since then, the program has continued to grow and mature. OSSA developed a clear mind map that shows students the diversity of maritime careers, from deck officers and engineers to port operations, logistics, marine science and offshore support roles,” Mr Brewer said.
“This visual approach helps students understand that the industry is not a single job, but an ecosystem of interconnected professions.”
While Melbourne schools were the initial focus, awareness of the program spread quickly.
OSSA secured grant funding to visit sea cadet units throughout Victoria, where the presentations were enthusiastically received.
The program has since expanded into South Australia and Queensland. In Western Australia, OSSA members have now grouped together and will commence school visits in 2026, following an initial presentation in Broome in 2025. New South Wales is also set to begin in 2026.
All of this work is delivered by OSSA’s membership, which now exceeds 300 people. Funding is modest and community-based, coming primarily from membership fees, grants and donations. As a registered charitable organisation, all donations to OSSA are tax deductible.
Education, however, does not stop at awareness. Recognising the financial and practical barriers faced by students entering seagoing careers, OSSA established a separate Scholarship Fund in 2025.
“The scholarships support candidates through career guidance, training costs and—critically—assistance with securing sea-time placements required by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority,” Mr Brewer said.
“These training berths are notoriously difficult to obtain, yet OSSA has already secured placements for more than 20 cadets with Australian and international shipowners.
“The results are tangible. OSSA is proud to have supported its first scholarship recipient into permanent employment with a local shipowner.”
Mr Brewer said Australia cannot afford to continue overlooking the maritime industry or the people who sustain it.
“If we want resilient supply chains, skilled domestic crews and meaningful career options for young Australians, maritime education must become part of the national conversation—starting in schools,” he said.
OSSA’s Maritime School Program shows what is possible when industry takes responsibility for its future. With broader support from government, educators and the community, it can help ensure that Australia’s next generation once again looks to the sea—not as a forgotten backdrop, but as a place of opportunity.
Education and training in Australian marine pilotageMarine pilotage is a small but critical part of the maritime sector. While the profession is niche, the consequences of getting it wrong are significant. For that reason, education, training and ongoing professional development sit at the centre of safe and effective pilotage operations in Australia.
The Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI) is involved across the full skills continuum: from entry pathways into pilotage, through initial training and into continued professional development throughout a pilot’s career. This end-to-end focus is becoming increasingly important as the industry responds to workforce pressures and structural change.
AMPI deputy president and director Ricky Rouse said the traditional entry route into Australian marine pilotage remains the AMSA-issued Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency.
“Achieving this qualification requires a high level of academic attainment alongside extensive seagoing experience, often including service as master on large, internationally-trading vessels and, in some cases, holding pilotage exemption certificates,” he said.
In more recent years, a growing number of entrants have progressed through the Australian Maritime College’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Nautical Science), leading to a Master Unlimited CoC. These pathways collectively deliver the vast majority of competencies required to enter marine pilotage training.
“However, some ports, particularly remote and regional ports, are beginning to experience shortages of suitable applicants,” Captain Rouse said.
“In response, alternative entry routes are being explored, including candidates holding smaller domestic licences or non-traditional qualifications.”
While these pathways may assist with workforce sustainability, they also raise legitimate questions around consistency, comparability and assurance of academic standards.
AMPI deputy president and director Ricky Rouse. Image: Supplied
Australian marine pilotage operates in a demanding environment. Compared with many other jurisdictions, Australia has limited coastal shipping but routinely handles very large vessels, often in confined waterways and environmentally sensitive areas. The operational risk profile is therefore high.
“Australian pilots are widely regarded as operating to some of the highest standards globally,” Captain Rouse said.
“Maintaining that reputation requires that any changes to entry pathways do not erode the foundational knowledge expected of a marine pilot.”
Recent changes to skills classification settings have sharpened this issue. In 2024, marine pilotage was separated from Ship Master in the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia. This change removed the previous skills assessment mechanism for immigration purposes, which had relied on AMSA verification of a Master Unlimited Certificate of Recognition.
“As a result, there is now a clear gap in how academic equivalence is independently assessed for applicants holding overseas qualifications,” Captain Rouse said.
“AMPI has been actively working with industry, regulators and academic institutions to address these challenges.”
The Institute has been involved in the development of academic bridging courses intended to support alternative entry pathways. One of AMPI’s members, Captain Rory Main (a former AMPI president and owner of the Fremantle Maritime Simulation Centre), has played a key role in this space.
At the same time, AMPI’s position is clear: regardless of how a candidate enters pilotage, there must be a robust and independent means of verifying academic knowledge at the appropriate level.
To address this, AMPI is working jointly with the Australian Maritime College to develop a Professional Entrance Examination for marine pilotage. The exam is designed to assess academic competencies at officer of the watch, chief mate and master unlimited level.
“Importantly, the exam is not intended to determine whether someone will ultimately be a good or bad pilot,” he said.
“Like professional examinations used in other safety-critical fields such as medicine and aviation, its purpose is to confirm that the required underpinning knowledge exists before operational training begins.
“The assessment of vocation experience and technical skills would need to be performed through approved processes by the regulators, which already occurs in many states.”
The examination would provide a consistent benchmark across federal and state regulators, enabling alternative entry routes without compromising standards. It would also provide a credible mechanism for managing academic equivalence where applicants hold overseas qualifications.
The examination would be administered by ASPEQ, an examining authority, which also delivers all Civil Aviation Safety Authority aviation theory examinations for aviation pilots. This provides a high level of confidence in examination governance, integrity and consistency.
Education in marine pilotage does not end at entry. AMPI is currently updating its continuous professional development framework and platform to ensure it continues to support pilots and stakeholders as operational, technological and regulatory demands evolve.
AMPI also hosts the Australian Maritime Mentoring Program in partnership with the OSSA, The Nautical Institute, the Australian Company of Master Mariners and the Pilbara Ports Authority. The program supports both new and experienced maritime professionals by providing structured mentoring and guidance on career development and transition pathways across the industry.
“Maintaining a safe, skilled and resilient marine pilotage workforce requires both protection of high standards and a willingness to adapt to changing conditions,” Captain Rouse said.
“Through rigorous academic assurance, strengthened professional development and collaborative mentoring initiatives, AMPI is working to ensure Australian marine pilotage remains safe, credible and internationally respected into the future.
This article appeared in the February | March 2026 edition of DCN Magazine