The Maritime Industry’s Workforce Challenge Amid Ammonia’s Rise as an Alternative Fuel

The maritime industry is facing a ‘significant’ workforce challenge as ammonia’s momentum as a scalable alternative fuel option builds on in the face of the maritime industry’s energy transition, suggests a new report.

In their project summary report released on February 18, 2025, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (The Decarb Hub) and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) reiterate that ammonia is a “promising” alternative.

However, per the partners’“Ammonia as Fuel Competencies and Training“ project report, as many as 800,000 workers need to be upskilled to handle the unique hazards associated with handling ammonia and ammonia-powered vessels like toxicity, flammability, explosions and material incompatibility.

As disclosed, while current training frameworks under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Competency and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Code (STCW) provide foundational knowledge, they ‘do not adequately prepare seafarers for the realities of handling ammonia.’

“Current frameworks for seafarer training is a baseline, however insufficient to meet ammonia’s unique safety challenges. Existing frameworks must incorporate specialized knowledge about the unique characteristics and hazards that accompany this fuel,” Martin Eriksen, Head of Safety Leadership & Operations at MMMCZCS, highlighted.

“Understanding their specific chemical and physical properties, handling requirements, safety protocols and emergency response strategies are indicative areas for intervention.”

During their joint initiative, the Decarb Hub and MMMCZCS identified ‘critical’ knowledge and skill gaps in the existing training programs. The report delved into three tiers of training needs:

• Proposed baseline competencies: They form the foundation that should be present in future seafarer training frameworks;
• Basic and advanced competencies: Seafarers will need both fundamental and specialized knowledge in ammonia storage, fuel transfer, and emergency response;
• Role-specific training: Tailored programs for shipboard personnel, company corporate staff, port authorities, and shore-based operators are a necessity.

The two partners also emphasized that shipowners, operators, and training institutions must collaborate to establish ‘robust’ training frameworks addressing immediate and long-term competency needs.

Survey Findings: Seafarers are Willing, but Cautious

As informed, an industry-wide survey conducted by MMMCZCS revealed a generally positive attitude toward working on ammonia-fuelled ships. However, respondents expressed strong concerns over safety, emphasizing that their willingness is contingent on comprehensive training programs being in place.

To ensure a smooth transition to ammonia-fuelled operations, the Decarb Hub and MMMCZCS made a few recommendations in their report:

• Regulators and flag states should revise and expand global training standards, including updates to the STCW code to incorporate ammonia safety protocols;
• Shipowners and operators should conduct internal gap analyses, upgrade corporate policies and invest in structured upskilling programs;
• Training providers have to create and employ competency-based training modules with practical safety drills and real-world handling scenarios;
• Seafarers should actively seek out upskilling opportunities and familiarize themselves with new competency frameworks as ammonia becomes more prevalent.

With the orderbook of ammonia-ready vessels ballooning, the Decarb Hub and the MMMCZCS conclude that industry players need to act now to ensure an efficient green transition, protecting the workforce and the environment.