IMO rolls out training on alternative fuels

The large-scale rollout of the Train-the-Trainer Programme on Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Shipping, led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has begun.

The first training session under this initiative took place from 14 to 18 April at the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC-Asia), located at Shanghai Maritime University, and was attended by 35 participants. The Programme was implemented by World Maritime University (WMU) to empower maritime professionals with the skills to train others on key fuels for shipping decarbonization: ammonia, methanol and hydrogen.

The training course was developed under the project on Baseline Training Framework for Seafarers in Decarbonization, in collaboration with the Maritime Just Transition (MJT) Task Force, and the IMO Secretariat.

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The Programme was first trialled at WMU in December 2024 with feedback collected through the post-course evaluation survey from the participants. Updates include additional practical sessions, using scenario-based learning derived from real-world cases, and providing demonstrations of safety equipment and procedures.

IMO-funded participants were from Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Pakistan; the Philippines; Thailand; and Viet Nam.

Self-funded participants were from China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Republic of Korea; and Singapore, MTCC Asia, and non-governmental organization (NGO) and industry representatives nominated by the partners of the Maritime Just Transition Task Force, including the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

To remind, in February, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) agreed on draft interim generic guidelines for training seafarers working on ships powered by alternative fuels and new technologies that will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee for approval in June 2025.