Future Trends and prospects for the Shipbuilding and Offshore Renewable Energy Sectors

The MATES project has published a report (October 14, 2019) which not only describes the current situation and future prospects of the shipbuilding and offshore renewable energy sectors, but also the challenges that must be addressed in the future.

One of these challenges is undoubtedly the content and delivery of training. Vocational Education Training (VET)has to provide for the upskilling and retraining of the current work force.

The report refers to the generational change taking place in the shipbuilding sector which highlights the need for the transfer of information and experience from the experienced worker to the inexperienced newcomer.

While there is a surge in jobs expected for offshore wind, which will bring its own challenges of finding suitable workforce, other marine energies such as wave, tidal and gradient energy will require either new technologies or technological improvements to advance the competitiveness of electricity generation.

A significant gap for both sectors was the provision of appropriate training to existing and future workers for human capital development.