The issue of maritime education was the major topic of this year’s agenda of Metropolitan College international conference.
Professor Dinos Arkoumanis Chairman of the Academic Council of Metropolitan opened the conference and presented the speakers.
Keynote speaker was Capt George Vassilakis who explained why mental health is important. He pointed out that mental health helps seafarers functioning properly.
The culture in shipping must change and seafarers have to talk about mental health issues.
Healthier and happier seafarers run safer ships.
The panel included the following speakers Capt Panagiotis Nikita’s HSQE Manager of Maran Dry, Capt Socrates Tigkos crew manager Safebulkers, Thanos Mytilineos HR Manager Piraeus port Authority, Capt Spyros Kyriakopoulos Training manager Danaos Shipping and moderated by Ms Katerina Kokkini deputy CEO of KMK Marine consultants.
The panel discussed the topic of empowering human element in shipping.
The speakers said that despite the technological innovations and artificial intelligence, human factor will remain at the core of shipping operations. In these uncharted waters of globalization and geopolitical uncertainty that Shipping experiences the human element will be the critical factor in this demanding world.
To handle different mentalities and conditions in shipping seafarers and shipping executives must be equipped not only by technical expertise and technological knowledge but also by a set of soft skills to follow up the new requirements and regulations and adapt to the changing environment. Resilience is also needed for high stress situations.
The speakers referred to the necessity to re-skill and up-skill the company’s employees and explained how they motivate people with different backgrounds and mentalities.
Finally, the speakers remarked that new professions and roles will emerge in the years to come and creativity and adaptability will definetly drive the future.
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