EU project launches to help green marine industry

An EU-funded project to facilitate skills for the green transition of the marine industry has been launched.

TEcoNaut aims to promote the use of sustainable composite materials in boatbuilding. The project will encourage sustainability in the European boating industry through targeted vocational training and collaboration between industry, academia, and vocational education.

The project promotes sustainable materials in the nautical industry developed with cutting-edge technology, ‘driving the race towards the ecological transition and the employment opportunities offered by “eco” nautical construction’.

TEcoNaut will be implemented over three years and the project is made up of nautical companies and institutions from seven countries: Spain, France, Greece, Belgium, Germany, Turkey and Poland. It will be officially presented at the Palma International Boat Show on 26 April.

The TEcoNaut project aims to achieve its main objective through:

• Developing a deep tech materials course for vocational education and training (VET), focusing on the utilisation and application of deep tech materials, alongside a ‘train the trainers programme.
• Conducting a thorough identification of skills gaps, connected to the European skills/competences, qualifications, and occupations (ESCO) framework, and utilising the new EU green taxonomy.
• Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students and future workers in the ‘eco’ nautical sector, encouraging them to envision future business opportunities in the use of sustainable materials and the circularity of boatbuilding materials while enhancing their resilience skills.
• Designing a traineeship programme for higher education students, employing hands-on approaches to apply the acquired deep tech skills within companies.

TEcoNaut says the development of the highly necessary deep tech green wave in boatbuilding can only be achieved through collaboration among higher education institutions researching deep-tech materials, companies embracing sustainable practices in boat construction, and VET centres providing qualified personnel.