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The world’s first Administration-led programme, “Training-the-Trainer”, was successfully delivered in Hong Kong

During April 2026, The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF), comprising of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), successfully delivered the “Training-the-Trainer” (TTT) programme in Hong Kong.

The world’s first Administration-led programme was organised by the MJTTF secretariat and the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong, as part of their Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering to train green maritime fuel-related talent. It was supported by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Session presenters additionally included the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), the Indian Maritime University (IMU), the Antwerp Maritime Academy (AMA), Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (AESM), and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).

Over 2 cohorts of a 3-day programme, the MJTTF showcased the adaptation and application of its Basic and Advanced Training Frameworks for seafarers to handle ships powered by alternative fuels into training packages to equip the participants with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for the use of alternative fuels. This enabled them to assume training roles within their respective organisations, educating both seafarers and shore-based personnel on the safe and effective use of these fuels.

The audience consisted of attendees with a broad range of roles from maritime education, training institutes, and the wider maritime ecosystem, including shipping companies, seafarer unions, auditing bodies, classification societies, and NGOs. The programme focused on providing solutions to develop seafarers’ competence in handling alternative fuels by combining academic and industry expertise grounded in the current regulatory landscape, MJTTF’s Training Frameworks, and future pathways for training.

The MJTTF firstly introduced their training for the decarbonisation project, before following with an overview of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) historical initiatives in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduction, including their latest strategy and current state of play. Notably, industry representatives and policy makers had insightful discussions prompted by the sharing of rationale and vision for a future pathway of training in methanol-fuelled and ammonia-fuelled ships.

Over the subsequent sessions, the IMU, the AMA, and AESM provided practical examples of application of the MJTTF’s Training Frameworks, which was followed by corresponding interactive activities. The participants were encouraged to develop course objectives, learning outcomes, and assessment criteria whilst discussing learning principles and educational activities through the application of the MJTTF’s Training Frameworks.

The programme covered a wide range of subjects such as pedagogical foundations and theories, IMO model courses, and onboard technical experience, during which, the participants received a wide range of perspectives on how to adapt the MJTTF’s Training Frameworks into training packages. The session led by IMEC focused on the importance of developing ship-specific familiarisation programmes. The legal basis enshrined within the ISM Code and the STCW Convention was also emphasised. AESM and BSM presented their practical experience on discussions with flag Administrations, regarding certifying seafarers to work on dual-fuelled ships, as well as development and roll-out of ship-specific familiarisation programmes through applying the MJTTF’s Familiarisation Guidelines. The interactive activity created by IMEC consisted of scenarios where participants, representing industry stakeholders, were required to engage in discussions with fictional flag Administrations to certify their seafarers on different dual-fuelled ships and share their observations.

Overall, the programmes received overwhelmingly positive feedback with calls for continuing such collaboration through webinars and future TTT programmes, which the MJTTF is considering alongside other like-minded entities. It was encouraging to witness the high level of participation and interaction throughout the programmes, advancing the MTTF’s Action Plan for Mapping a Maritime Just Transition for Seafarers.

ICS