Seaways Free Article: Charting a course for career growth
Choosing the right training for your future
By Capt Dr Oleksandr Pipchenko AFNI;
Professor Vladimir Torskiy FNI;
and Oleksiy Kozyr
Professional development beyond seafaring skills is increasingly vital in today’s maritime industry. Management-level training and certifications – from ISO standards to soft skills – equip mariners and shore staff with tools to excel in modern operations.
This is important for sea-going officers transitioning into shore roles, existing shore-based maritime staff aiming to advance, and HR and training professionals building competent teams. Continuous learning ensures that maritime professionals remain competent and successful throughout their careers, both at sea and ashore. According to Captain John Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Nautical Institute: “We are encouraged that the industry has recognised the importance of continuing professional development – CPD – in helping to ensure vessels operate safely. By supporting staff through ongoing learning programmes, employers can help ensure their vessels are operated to the highest safety standards.”
The range of courses and qualifications available can be confusing, and it is not always clear which qualifications are most suitable for the career path you are seeking out. In this article, we explore the practical and career value of several key management-level topics in both shipboard and shore-based contexts. We highlight how each qualification enhances job effectiveness, raises operational quality, and elevates the professionalism of those certified.
ISO standards
ISO 9001 is the globally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). In maritime operations, it underpins consistent processes both on ships and in offices, aligning with the requirements of the ISM Code for safety management.
For sea-going officers moving ashore, an ISO 9001 qualification translates their shipboard experience into the language of shore management. It provides a structured framework to articulate the operational excellence and risk management skills gained at sea.
Knowledge of ISO 9001 and auditing is highly practical for maritime professionals. Many shore-side job postings explicitly require familiarity with the ISM Code and ISO 9001, as these form the backbone of shipping company management processes. ISO 14001 sets the standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), which are increasingly pertinent in the shipping industry’s drive toward sustainability. Ship operators face stringent environmental regulations (MARPOL, ballast water management, and emissions controls) and growing public scrutiny of their environmental footprint. Obtaining ISO 14001 certification signifies a company’s commitment to environmental stewardship beyond mere compliance.
Maritime officers with ISO 14001 training show they understand sustainable operations – an attractive trait for roles in fleet management, compliance, or corporate sustainability initiatives. In terms of professional growth, mastering ISO 14001 keeps maritime managers aligned with global best practices in environmental protection – a field that is rapidly evolving with IMO’s decarbonisation strategy and new environmental regulations.
ISO 50001 focuses on Energy Management Systems (EnMS) – a topic of mounting importance as shipping strives for efficiency and lower emissions. Fuel is one of the largest costs for a ship voyage and a major source of greenhouse gases. Both on board and ashore, there is a push to optimise energy use: from adjusting a vessel’s speed (slow steaming) to installing energy-saving technologies and analysing voyage data for efficiency. ISO 50001 provides a systematic approach for organisations to monitor energy performance, implement energy-saving measures, and continually improve energy efficiency.
According to a maritime quality institute, ISO 50001 helps reduce energy use, optimise fuel consumption, and minimise carbon emissions, leading to significant cost savings. Training in ISO 50001 arms maritime professionals with the knowledge to cut fuel costs and emissions, delivering both environmental and economic benefits. ISO 50001 certification can open doors to specialised roles in the era of green shipping. A second engineer with a passion for fuel efficiency might become a Fleet Energy Performance Superintendent or a consultant in vessel optimisation. The use of such training is apparent in trends: technical roles that monitor and improve fleet efficiency are on the rise as companies respond to decarbonisation pressure. ISO 45001 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management, which replaced the older OHSAS 18001. Safety is a core value in shipping – at sea, crew work in a hazardous environment where incidents can be catastrophic, and ashore, maritime companies must safeguard office staff, dockworkers, and others.
While the SOLAS Convention and the ISM Code mandate certain safety measures, ISO 45001 provides a structured framework to proactively manage workplace hazards and continually improve safety performance. A certification in ISO 45001 equips maritime professionals to implement and audit safety management systems. For an individual, understanding ISO 45001 means being able to contribute to such systems. Safety management certification is often a baseline expectation for shore roles today. Employers look for candidates who not only have seafaring experience but also formal OH&S knowledge since it indicates an ability to manage modern safety systems. A former captain or chief engineer with ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training, for example, could advance to an HSE Manager or Marine Superintendent role, being trusted to maintain high safety standards.
“Specialised certifications significantly enhance employability and career progression.”
| Knowledge of standard or specific skill |
Shipboard application |
Shore-side Application | Career Opportunities |
| ISO 9001 | Quality audits, ISM compliance | Fleet quality management | Quality superintendent, HSSEQ manager, DPA, Quality Control Officer. |
| ISO 14001 | Pollution control, risk mitigation | Sustainability programs | Sustainability manager, environmental compliance officer, port environmental manager. |
| ISO 45001 | Safety culture improvement | Occupational safety management | HSE manager, safety superintendent, DPA. |
| ISO 50001 | Energy consumption monitoring | Energy efficiency programmes | Energy efficiency superintendent, technical manager, sustainability officer. |
| Train the Trainer | Effective onboard instruction | Maritime training roles | Training superintendent, instructor, HSSEQ trainers, or crew managers who conduct in-house courses. |
| Crisis Management | Emergency communication | Crisis and media relations management | Important for senior management, DPAs, and communications/HR managers. |
| Management of Change | Implementing shipboard changes | Managing multiple operational transitions | Key competency for superintendents, fleet managers, project managers. |
| Time Management | Efficient watchkeeping and scheduling | Managing multiple operational tasks | Universal career skill – boosts effectiveness for any role from operations to senior management. |
| Personnel Evaluation | Crew appraisal and feedback | Structured performance management | Critical for Crewing Managers, HR managers, and any maritime leader managing a team. |
Additional management-level skills
Transitioning from sea to shore presents maritime professionals with new challenges, including less structured environments and increased ambiguity in decision-making. Soft skills such as instructional ability, crisis management, change management, time management, and personnel evaluation become crucial. These skills significantly enhance a maritime professional’s effectiveness in the office by equipping them to handle nuanced interpersonal dynamics, complex situations, and leadership responsibilities more naturally and efficiently. Mastering these soft skills distinctly elevates maritime professionals’ profiles, significantly increasing their employability and career advancement opportunities.
Train the Trainer courses are instrumental in enhancing maritime instructional capabilities, essential for roles involving training delivery onboard or ashore. They position professionals favourably for senior instructional and training superintendent roles.
Crisis management and media training equips people to adeptly handle communications during incidents, protecting company reputation and ensuring clear stakeholder engagement. It marks individuals as proactive, prepared leaders suitable for toplevel crisis response positions like Designated Person Ashore (DPA) or communications manager.
Change management training enables professionals to smoothly manage transitions – such as the adoption of new technologies or regulatory adjustments – minimising disruptions and risks. Expertise in management of change is increasingly demanded in managerial roles, clearly signalling an individual’s capability to lead organisational transitions safely.
Time management skills provide maritime professionals with essential tools to prioritise and manage multiple, concurrent responsibilities efficiently, a necessity in dynamic shore-side roles. Strong time management competencies enhance personal productivity and reputation, distinguishing professionals as reliable and efficient; qualities valued in operational leadership roles.
Personnel evaluation training empowers managers with structured appraisal techniques, enabling effective team performance management, aligning individual goals with organisational objectives, and facilitating professional growth and development. It indicates readiness for higher leadership roles in Human Resources or crewing departments, demonstrating proficiency in teambuilding, talent management, and strategic staff development.
Mapping certifications to maritime careers
Quality management, environmental standards, occupational safety, energy management, instructional skills, crisis response, change management, time efficiency, and personnel evaluation collectively shape a comprehensive skillset critical for maritime professionals. These competencies directly improve operational standards and open new career pathways.
Historically, seafaring experience alone sufficed for shore transitions; now, additional specialised certifications significantly enhance employability and career progression. Companies benefit from certified professionals capable of implementing best practices, ensuring safer, environmentally responsible, and efficient operations. From the individual’s perspective, qualifications in these areas bridge the gap between shipboard experience and shore-based roles, enhancing their marketability, confidence, and professional effectiveness.
In today’s competitive maritime landscape, possessing these advanced skills is no longer optional – it’s essential. Professionals equipped with these competencies become invaluable assets, driving organisational excellence, personal growth, and sustained success both at sea and ashore.
