Amended Motion 30
Maritime Training & Education
“That this Congress notes the essential role of Scotland’s maritime sector in sustaining national resilience, coastal economies, the offshore energy transition, and supply?chain security. Despite this, the number of UK and Scottish seafarers and experienced maritime professionals continues to fall, driven by under?investment in training and failure to modernise maritime skills frameworks.
“Congress further notes the significant barriers faced by cadets and apprentices in Scotland, including restricted access to sea?time, declining bursary support, and prolonged qualification delays. These pressures, intensified by the pandemic, have had a disproportionate impact on young workers, women, Black workers, LGBT+ workers, and workers with disabilities entering and sustaining maritime careers.
“Scotland’s maritime workforce will be central to meeting national net?zero and offshore energy ambitions. However, training frameworks have not kept pace with the technological and decarbonisation demands that will define the future. Reform is urgently needed to ensure Scottish seafarers acquire the skills required for new fuels, digitalised operations and evolving safety standards.
“Congress believes that maritime training is a strategic national Scottish asset. A Just Transition must ensure all workers, particularly those under?represented or marginalised, can access high?quality training and fair career progression as the industry transforms.
“Congress calls on the Scottish Government, UK Government, and industry to:
- expand public funding and bursaries to remove financial barriers to training;
- guarantee minimum sea?time access for all cadets and trainees in Scotland;
- modernise maritime education and training to reflect new technologies;
- increase seafarer training capacity on new build ferries delivering public services in Scotland;
- develop specialist training programmes for Ratings in Scotland, including on-board electro-technical work;
- embed equality, diversity and inclusion across all training routes, ensuring the needs of women, young workers, Black workers, LGBT+ workers and disabled workers are fully addressed; and
- invest in Scotland-based training infrastructure, including digital training record systems.
“Congress calls on the General Council to work with Nautilus International and RMT to deliver a fair, future-ready, and inclusive Scottish maritime skills strategy.”
Mover: Nautilus International
Seconder: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
RSS