VDR Aims to Inspire Young Talent for the Maritime Industry

Inspiring young talent, fostering the next generation, securing know-how. At the VDR’s training forum during the 13th National Maritime Conference in Bremen, politics, business, and stakeholders agree: The challenge of the maritime skills shortage must be addressed through a joint strategy.

(Hamburg) This year’s training forum of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) at the 13th National Maritime Conference in Bremen focused on a central theme: securing maritime talent and inspiring young people for the maritime economy. Under the title “How should maritime professions be presented and promoted in the future?” representatives from politics, business, and various stakeholder groups met with trainees from the sea and land sectors to collaboratively develop a strategy to tackle the challenges of the maritime skills shortage.

Shipping is crucial for Germany, as it is a resource-poor country. Germany imports large quantities of oil products, rare earths, coal, iron ore, consumer goods, intermediate products, and semiconductors by ship. Currently, over sixty percent of Germany’s imports and exports are transported by sea. One of the foundations of a strong German shipping industry is comprehensive maritime know-how at the location. However, in recent years, a growing gap in skilled workers in shipping and the maritime industry has been increasingly noted. This skills shortage could long-term impair the competitiveness of the sector and weaken the economic stability of the shipping location.

In light of this situation, high-ranking representatives from politics, business, and other relevant maritime sectors gathered at the VDR’s training forum for the National Maritime Conference. There was consensus that a joint strategy and actions are necessary to inspire young talent for the maritime industry. The focus should not only be on traditional professions but also on their need to adapt to modern requirements, digitalization, decarbonization, and 21st-century technologies.

“The maritime industry offers a variety of exciting career opportunities that are often underestimated or not sufficiently known. We need to inspire young people early on for maritime professions and inform them about the modern aspects of shipping,” emphasized Dr. Gaby Bornheim, President of the VDR. “Young people today are connected 24/7, mobile, and value-driven. We must meet these demands even more to reach and engage young people in the future,” Bornheim continued.

Concrete Measures Discussed

During the training forum, concrete measures were discussed to sustainably meet the demand for maritime talent. These include, among other things, strengthened cooperation between educational institutions and industry, the promotion of dual training programs, and greater use of digital media to raise awareness among young people about the diverse opportunities in the maritime world.

“The results of the discussions with the young trainees also confirm that we need to significantly increase the visibility and attractiveness of maritime training,” adds Dr. Martin Kröger, Managing Director of the VDR.

The VDR event underscored the urgency of a holistic strategy for promoting the next generation in the maritime sector. Politics, business, stakeholders, and trainees agree: Only through joint efforts can the maritime industry secure a strong and qualified crew for the future.

Young People Are Our Future

“Young people are our future; they are the ones who will carry on the legacy of our industry and lead it into a new era. We as German shipping companies will continue to contribute to securing maritime know-how at the location,” says President Bornheim.

Photo: © VDR