HELMEPA: Multifaceted training program for seafarers

The safety and well-being of seafarers, the strengthening of technical knowledge in matters of pollution prevention, strict adherence to safety procedures to avoid repeated accidents on board, cyber security, as well as the development of soft skills, are the thematic axes of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association-HELMEPA‘s new training  program.

It is a program, specially designed based on the educational priorities of the maritime community, as they emerged from a targeted survey of 52 shipping companies managing a fleet of 1,100+ vessels and 11 classification societies, P&I Clubs and sector companies. Also, upcoming legislative and technological developments and deficiencies in pollution prevention and safety issues, according to Port State Control inspections, were taken into account.

The development of soft skills such as leadership, resilience and stress management, the implementation of the new legislation for the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships, the cultivation of a spirit of safety through the sharing of lessons learned ‘) from actual events, the proper preparation for Port State Control inspections and the integration of ESG indicators into the companies’ strategy, are the topics prioritized by the shipping community and which have been integrated into the most multi-thematic and participative Training Program (2023 -2024) presented by HELMEPA.

The program is offered to sailors of all nationalities as well as office executives, offering a holistic educational proposal of 38 seminars, totaling 275 hours, structured in 28 thematic axes. The program is implemented with the participation of more than 50 lecturers, from HELMEPA member companies, and is co-assisted by the HELMEPA Training Committee, with an expanded composition, promoting the voluntary sharing of knowledge, good practices and lessons learned, in the context of this model education , HELMEPA’s multi-stakeholder platform, which is a unique example worldwide, representing 316 companies and organizations from the wider shipping sector, 2,270 ships and 14,000 seafarers.