Eight students completed first LeaderSHIP training course “Marine Technology and Offshore Energy“ in the Basque Country
This pilot course offered specialized training in marine engineering, offshore energy
technologies, navigation, safety, and emerging green propulsion systems. It was
structured as microcredentials and universitylevel continuing education, delivered in
blended format and aligned with EQF level 4.
The program aims to:
- Provide complete training in basic ship engineering, including P&ID,
simulator-supported operation, and maintenance of onboard systems. - Offer advanced knowledge of emerging technologies, such as hydrogen
propulsion, green H₂ generation, and offshore refueling systems. - Build a solid foundation in international maritime regulations.
- Reinforce competencies in risk management, emergency procedures, and
safety at sea. - Develop practical skills in CFD analysis and experimental validation using wave
tanks for ships and offshore platforms.
Students followed seven modules, taught at the University of the Basque Country
from 20 October – 12 December 2025:
- Operation & Maintenance (60 h)
- Regulations, Ship Types & Ports (23 h)
- Navigation & Autonomous Vessels (8 h)
- Oceanography & Safety (15 h)
- CFD for Floating Bodies (14 h)
- Fluid Power in Maritime Sector (15 h)
- Hydrogen (14 h)
What Participants Say
Graduates of the first edition generally experienced:
- High satisfaction with course relevance (90%+ positive ratings)
- Strong handson and applied learning through real maritime technologies
- Valuable interactions with companies and research centers
- Improved career perspectives in the growing offshore sector
- A sense of participating in a strategic, forward-looking program in Euskadi’s
blue-economy transformation
LeaderSHIP takes the stage at Euromaritime 2026
LeaderSHIP was present at Euromaritime in Marseille, a leading trade show for the European maritime industry with more than 300 exhibitors and 5,200 visitors from 60 countries from 3-5 February 2026.
The event served as a strategic bridge between regional maritime expertise and the industrial and political ambitions of the European Union, as set out in, e.g., the Pact for Skills, the Fair Labour Mobility Package, Skills Portability Initiative and the European Maritime industrial Strategy.
Our participation focussed on the "human element": the importance of skilled workers for the future of the industry. We engaged with local stakeholders and industry leaders to discuss how European political initiatives can empower regional innovation by delivering modernized training offers.
By translating European strategy into local action, LeaderSHIP is fostering the collaboration necessary to navigate the challenges of tomorrow’s seas through three key pillars:
- Upskilling & Reskilling: Equipping the workforce for the green and digital "twin transition."
- Strategic Collaboration: Aligning industry, educators, and public authorities to ensure training evolves at the pace of market needs.
- Global Competitiveness: Securing the specialized talent required for European maritime players to lead on the world stage.
Through short “pitches” we addressed a wider audience, presenting the results the project has already achieved: 40 curricula developed, 12 piloted courses and five more to be piloted soon. The future of the blue economy depends on our ability to turn EU policy into tangible results. By aligning with the European Green Deal and the latest maritime industrial strategies, LeaderSHIP is actively building a more resilient, skilled, and future-proof maritime sector.
Eleven students complete first LeaderSHIP training course in Galati
The first extracurricular introductory course on the modelling of naval structures using the Finite Element Method (FEM), organised within the framework of this European Union–funded project, was successfully completed on January 20th. The course was designed to enhance students’ practical competencies in structural analysis, complementing their academic training in naval architecture and shipbuilding engineering.
Held at the “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galați, the programme comprised 28 hours of instruction covering the fundamentals of structural analysis, e.g., 3D-FEM modelling, evaluating the local and global strength of a ship hull, followed by a 2-hour evaluation session. Successful completion of this course gives the participating Romanian students clear advantages once they embark on their professional path in the maritime engineering sector: they haver obtained knowledge that is not part of the regular curriculum in their course of study.
Robert, one of the graduates, shared his impressions:
“The course was interactive and very useful. It helped me gain essential knowledge in a particularly interesting area of naval engineering, namely finite element structural analysis. What I appreciated most was the practical work, especially the moment when we carried out the actual analysis and could see the results — the deformation patterns and graphical outputs. The course also helped me understand how to use specialised software and the step-by-step process required to analyse different structures. It complements my university studies very well and offers a clear, applied perspective on naval structural design.”
This initiative contributes to the objectives of the EU-funded project by strengthening the link between academic education and industry-relevant skills, thereby supporting the professional development of future engineers in the maritime sector.
Graduates of the course are expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in collaboration with Romanian shipbuilding and naval design companies, further reinforcing the connection between education and industry needs.
