82% of Maritime Professionals Say Current Training Falls Short of Operational Needs, Study Finds

Summary

A study commissioned by OneOcean and conducted by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius has found that 82% of surveyed maritime professionals believe current seafarer training does not adequately prepare crews for modern vessel operations. The research highlights competency gaps in digital systems, high-pressure situations and unexpected operational events, alongside concerns about compliance-focused training and information overload aboard increasingly connected ships.

Article

Seafarer training is struggling to keep pace with the operational and technological changes reshaping the maritime industry, according to two reports commissioned by OneOcean and conducted by maritime innovation consultancy Thetius.

The research, based on surveys and interviews with shipboard and shore-based maritime professionals, identifies a gap between formal qualifications and the practical competencies required to operate modern vessels. Participants included masters, officers, engineers, superintendents, training personnel, crewing staff and shore-based operators.

Survey highlights gaps in seafarer competence

The report Competent or Compliant? found that 82% of respondents believe existing training models do not adequately prepare crews for modern operational demands. Meanwhile, 52% said qualified crew members struggle during actual operations often or very often, while 56% identified checklist-driven compliance as a contributing factor. Only 18% believed current training adequately reflects operational realities.

Respondents identified several situations in which competency gaps become particularly apparent. Abnormal or unexpected situations were cited by 67% of participants, followed by high-pressure operations at 56%. A further 36% identified difficulties when moving between different vessels, while 31% pointed to challenges involving complex digital systems, including Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and reporting tools.

The findings suggest that completing mandatory training and obtaining the required certifications do not necessarily ensure that seafarers can apply their knowledge effectively in real-world conditions.

Digitalisation increases workload and decision-making challenges

The second report, Decision-optimised or overloaded?, examines the operational consequences of digitalisation aboard modern vessels. It finds that connected technologies have improved reporting, transparency and efficiency but have also introduced new demands on crews.

Seafarers increasingly need to reconcile information from systems that do not communicate effectively with one another. This can require manual checks across multiple displays, adding to workloads and increasing the complexity of operational decisions.

The report also identifies alert fatigue and information overload as emerging concerns. Following Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, 75% of surveyed mariners reported a moderate to significant increase in workload. The finding illustrates how disruptions can place additional demands on crews when multiple systems generate alerts and require simultaneous attention.

According to the research, greater access to data does not automatically improve decision-making, particularly during high-pressure situations. However, existing training programmes may not adequately prepare seafarers to manage competing information, interpret digital alerts and respond effectively when systems or operating conditions change.

OneOcean calls for changes to training approaches

Alex Mangan, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at OneOcean, said: “Change in shipping will only accelerate as vessels adopt new digital systems to manage tightening international regulation and to sail more efficiently and productively.

“This has created a growing gap between the training seafarers receive and the challenges they face at sea. The problem is twofold, coming from rapid technological changes at sea, and from the ways in which training is delivered to crews. Closing this reality gap requires the industry to shift its approaches to competence, to reflect real-world operations.”

Nick Chubb, Founder of Thetius, said: “The findings reveal a clear reality gap between the demands of modern shipping and the way competence is developed. As vessels become more digitally complex, the industry must move beyond compliance-based training and equip seafarers with the skills they need to operate safely and effectively.”

Digital tools used to assess crew readiness

OneOcean’s Ocean Learning Platform (OLP) provides operators with fleet-wide visibility into crew readiness by bringing together certification records and assessments. The platform is intended to help identify training gaps and provide a clearer view of workforce competence.

The company said it continues to invest in Human Capital Management and digital tools to support workforce planning, professional development and employee engagement.

Reports examine the future of maritime training

The two reports were introduced through a two-part webinar series hosted by Thetius, featuring discussions with industry panellists. The reports and webinar recordings are available through OneOcean’s thought leadership page.

OneOcean also participated in discussions at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global. Capt. Sanjeev Mathur, SVP at OneOcean, moderated a peer exchange titled “The Deployment Gap: What the Officer Shortage Actually Costs to Manage”. John Butler, SVP, Technical Ship Management at OneOcean, discussed “The Fatigue Timebomb & Shore Leave Erosion: A Witness Stand”, while Anna Ruszczynska, Regional Director – APAC at OneOcean, participated in a debate titled “The 800,000 — Who Owns the Race to Train the Guinea Pig Generation?”

The findings place practical competence, digital-system management and decision-making under pressure at the centre of the industry’s seafarer training challenge. As vessel technology evolves, the research points to the need for training approaches that reflect the conditions crews encounter during day-to-day operations and unexpected events.

FAQs

What percentage of maritime professionals say seafarer training is inadequate?

According to the OneOcean and Thetius research, 82% of respondents said current training models do not adequately prepare crews for modern vessel operations.

What are the main competency gaps identified in the research?

The main gaps arise during abnormal or unexpected situations, high-pressure operations, transitions between vessels and the use of complex digital systems such as ECDIS and reporting tools.

How does digitalisation affect seafarer workload?

Digitalisation can increase the need to reconcile information across systems that do not communicate effectively. The research also identifies alert fatigue and information overload as concerns that can complicate decision-making.

What did the study find about GNSS interference?

Following GNSS interference, 75% of surveyed mariners reported a moderate to significant increase in workload, highlighting the operational demands associated with digital-system disruptions.

Which reports examine seafarer training and digitalisation?

The two reports are Competent or Compliant? and Decision-optimised or overloaded?, commissioned by OneOcean and conducted by Thetius. They are available, along with webinar recordings, on OneOcean’s thought leadership page.