Transforming Maritime Education and Training Systems to Enhance Seafarers’ Competence in the Digital Shipping Era: A Mixed-Methods Study

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-793-4_16How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Maritime Education and Training; seafarer competence; digital transformation; simulator-based learning; PLS-SEM; maritime human resources

Abstract

The rapid digital transformation of the global maritime industry has reshaped the competency requirements of seafarers and has created new expectations for Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions. This study analyzes how MET systems can be transformed to enhance seafarer competence in the digital shipping era. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 210 respondents consisting of cadets, active seafarers, and instructors, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Qualitative data from interviews, observations, and document review were used to interpret and contextualize the quantitative findings. The results indicate that digital transformation has a significant positive effect on MET transformation, while MET transformation has a stronger direct effect on seafarer competence than digitalization alone. The model explains 64% of the variance in seafarer competence. Technical and safety competence were rated highly, whereas digital competence remained at a moderate level, indicating a persistent skills mismatch between maritime education outcomes and the operational demands of technology-intensive shipping. The study further identifies a dual competency gap: experienced seafarers tend to demonstrate stronger technical and safety competence, whereas younger respondents show relatively stronger digital competence. The study proposes an integrative MET transformation model combining adaptive competency-based curricula, technology-supported learning, simulator-based assessment, instructor capacity development, and industry collaboration. These findings contribute to MET literature by positioning maritime education as the mediating mechanism through which digital transformation is converted into operational competence and global workforce readiness.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tri Iriani Eka Wahyuni
AU  - Joe Alend Seniza Bokau
AU  - Joe Ronald Kurniawan Bokau
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/16
TI  - Transforming Maritime Education and Training Systems to Enhance Seafarers’ Competence in the Digital Shipping Era: A Mixed-Methods Study
BT  - Proceedings of the  International Conference on Advanced Maritime Interconnection (ICAMI 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 210
EP  - 221
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-793-4_16
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-793-4_16
ID  - Wahyuni2026
ER  -