Beating the talent time-bomb: Strategies for Recruiting, and Retaining Top Maritime Talent

The maritime industry faces an acute shortage of skilled crew, posing immediate and enduring challenges. In the short term, this scarcity disrupts operations, leading to increased workloads, fatigue, and even compromised safety aboard vessels. Long term, there is growing anxiety that a lack of qualified personnel threatens the industry's sustainability, hindering growth and capacity to meet escalating demands, and risking a systemic impact on maritime commerce.

Addressing the issue calls for a multi-faceted approach with hiring companies needing to differentiate as employers of choice and more broadly as an Industry to undertake initiatives to safeguard the profession and make seafaring an attractive career choice again.

In this thought-provoking session, we will explore pivotal themes such as:

Current market and data trends, building a talent pipeline and emerging crew pools of the future
Candidate screening and profiling
How to retain your talent
Strategies for developing your people and closing the skills gap

Speakers:
Henrik Jensen | CEO, Danica Crewing Specialists

Raal Harris | Chief Creative Officer, Ocean Technologies Group

Panel Discussion details:

Moderator:

Sean Moloney
CEO | Elaborate Communications

Panellists:

Capt. Ioannis Anysis | Crew Development Manager - Owner’s Representative, 88Aces Maritime Services Inc a Scorpio Company

Iris V. Baguilat | President, Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc. | Chairman, ALMA Maritime Group

Dr Loukas Barmparis | President & Director, Safe Bulkers

Capt. Panagiotis Bitsakis |Head Of Crew, Optimum Ship Services Ltd

Francesco Gargiulo | Chief Executive Officer, IMEC

Simon Grainge | Chief Executive | International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN)

Amalia Marcou | Crew Director & HR Manager, Enesel Dry S.A

Mr Dimitris Vasalakis | HR Director at Danaos Shipping

The session promises deep insights and actionable strategies to help crewing professions unlock pathways to find, select and retain crew talent. Engage with thought leaders, exchange innovative ideas, and steer toward a more sustainable and efficient crewing future.

The event will be held 5th of June from 14:45-16:30 at Posidonia Seminar Room 2B!

Beating the talent time-bomb: OTG & Danica Seminar