CHAlleNGE 4S emerges in the framework of the P4S SHIPBUILDING with the primary objective of updating competences and skills with specific reference to digitalization spill overs and the strong implications in the shipbuilding sector and the secondary one of attracting talents. The overall need set by P4S SB of up/reskill counts 200.000 workers by 2025 and 230.000 new talents to be attracted by 2030. An initial definition of stable methodology to update skills needs and priorities will be the ground for developing targeted actions to reducing the skills gap. Then, a methodology to identify innovative training methods, in certain cases mutually adopted by big companies and SMEs, will open the activity of detailed design of 12 training prototypes and to the implementation of 4 pilot training actions, targeting workers in the maritime sector, addressing different topics connected to digitalization in shipbuilding and covering EQF levels from 3 to 6, which could be replicated in all the regions lamenting the same skills gap. The progressing will be constantly monitored to understand impact on the territory and the measures to facilitate replication and sustainability beyond the project. A dedicated promotion plan will be implemented for the pilot training realization and to attract future professionals.CHAlleNGE 4S will capitalize on previous experiences, in particular training prototypes already defined but never implemented, new training methodologies already tested in maritime frameworks. Project activities are defined for workers and future professionals and, among the expected results, the project will provide: a methodology to perform the training gap analysis, a catalogue of fully defined training prototypes to be used beyond the project, the feedback analysis of 4 pilot actions implemented in 4 different countries with suggestions needed to improve the pilots and proceed with implementation in other EU areas, promotion material to be use for talents’ attraction.

Electrification of maritime and IW vessels shows a low progress, since there are several challenges that need to be overcome before battery energy storage systems (BESS) can compete with other solutions towards the decarbonization of vessels. The main challenges are related to the: (i) weight of the BESS, since a high storage capacity represents a significant share of the vessel’s cargo capacity in small/medium sized vessels, (ii) the reliability so that to ensure the trouble-free routing and reduction of operating and maintenance costs, and (iii) the safety that is the key to enable the large-scale adoption and remove any concern of vessel owners. These three aspects constitute the Innovation Pillars of HARPOONERS, and drive the development of a unique modular concept for interfacing with HV on-board grids, characterized by a high compactness due to the integration of key components in a single configuration, thus eliminating the transformer and a cooling system. This “AC battery system” will be developed together with the management systems for a reliable operation in future powertrains of all-electric or hybrid vessels with reduced emissions. The outcome is a reduced weight, reliable and safer BESS that will allow the uptake of the HARPOONERS solution in both maritime and IW vessels, to further increase the battery capacity and achieve a longer autonomy. This is extremely beneficial in small/medium vessels, in which full electrification will be possible, thus eliminating the use of the combustion engine and its associated CO2 and other emissions, but also on large vessels in which the HARPOONERS solution with less use of raw materials will lead to a reduced environmental impact and lower manufacturing and maintenance costs. To achieve this, HARPOONERS has gathered a balanced European-wide partnership with organizations from the key value chains, such as research, battery system and power electronics manufacturers, shipping owners, and a Classification Society.

Maritime disasters in recent years are a stark reminder of the imperative need for timely and effective evacuation of large passenger ships during emergency. The Lynceus2Market project addresses this challenge through delivering a revolutionary operational system for safe evacuation based on innovative people localisation technologies. The system consists of: 1) Localisable life jackets that can provide passenger location in real-time during emergency 2) Smart smoke detectors that also act as base stations of an on-board localisation system 3) Innovative localisable bracelets able to send activity data to the emergency management team 4) Low cost fire and flooding escalation monitoring sensor notes 5) novel mustering handheld devices for automatic identification and counting of passengers during evacuation 6) Smart localisable cabin key cards 7) Intelligent decision support software able to fuse all localisation, activity and disaster escalation data to provide an integrated real-time visualisation, passenger counting and evacuation decision support 8) Innovative shore or ship-launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for localising people in the sea in short time and assisting search and rescue operations when accident occurs in extreme weather, during the night or in a remote location 9) Low-cost rescue-boat mounted radars for people localisation in the vicinity of the boat. The proposed project is based on the promising results developed in the FP7 LYNCEUS project where the innovative technologies were tested in lab and in small scale pilots. Lynceus2Market brings together European global players in the field, such as cruise ship owners, operators, ship builders, maritime equipment manufacturers, a classification society, industry associations and important technology organisations with the aim to implement the first market replication of these technologies and products. The Lynceus2Market will create significant impact by saving passenger lives during maritime accidents.

The LeaderSHIP project brings together main industry leaders, EU and national social partners representatives, regional clusters and education providers to collectively boost innovation, competitiveness and resilience in the European shipbuilding sector and the entire maritime value chain, through the development of a sectoral skills strategy, the design and implementation of EU-level training and by building sustainable cooperation of the EU Shipbuilding and Maritime Pact for Skills. Building upon the results of previous Blueprint projects and the knowledge and expertise of the partners, the LeaderSHIP project will design and implement secondary and tertiary training for up- and reskilling current and future workers in key areas to support the industry in meeting the needs of the twin digital and green transition. The project will deliver the current and emerging skills to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry and accelerating the use of renewable energies and new fuels and electrical power. The project will also deliver key skills for the digitalisation of the design and production processes and remote and connected maritime operations. The Project is organised in a top-down approach, it will deliver EU-level courses and qualifications and establish the mechanisms for their recognition and implementation in the different countries and companies in the partnership to facilitate workers and learners mobility. The courses will make use of innovative methodologies and technologies incl. e-learning, WBL and blended learning approaches. Rooted in the EU sectoral social dialogue between employers and workers representatives the Project aims to enlarge and strengthen the existing large-scale partnership by engaging stakeholders across EU maritime ecosystems to promote sustainable cooperation on skills mobilise resources, incentivise upskilling and reskilling actions and promote inter-company and business-education partnerships and collaboration in Europe.