Single News - DO NOT DELETE

The BLUE PORTS Academy successfully concluded in October 2026. The training programme was organized by the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (ReSEL@TUC) of the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Crete, under the scientific supervision of Professor Theoharis Tsoutsos, Director of the Laboratory and Coordinator of the European BLUE PORTS project.

The programme aimed to equip the next generation of professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to drive the green transition of ports, linking their sustainable development to current labour market needs and highlighting new career opportunities in the port sector. The BLUE PORTS Academy brought together 42 final-year students and recent graduates from maritime, shipping and engineering schools across Greece. The training was delivered online through four sessions, totalling 12 hours.

Building on the expertise and educational materials developed within the BLUE PORTS project, the programme covered four key thematic areas: Sustainable Port Development; Energy Transition towards Zero-Emission Ports; Circular Economy for Zero-Waste Ports; and Environmental Protection towards Ports with Zero Environmental Footprint. Through these modules, participants explored the challenges and practices involved in transitioning to sustainable, smart and resilient ports, while gaining insight into the evolving needs of the labour market.

The programme concluded with a dedicated session entitled “Careers in Focus – Career Opportunities in the Ports of the Future”, which connected the knowledge acquired during the Academy with professional experience and the real-world needs of the port sector.

The session featured Panagiotis G. Anastasopoulos, Chairman of the Board of the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME) and Chairman and CEO of the Patras Port Authority; Chrysanthi Kontogiorgi, Deputy Head of the Property and Environment Department at the Piraeus Port Authority; and Triantafyllos Afentoulidis, Infrastructure Engineer in the Technical Services Directorate of the Thessaloniki Port Authority and holder of certification under the BLUE PORTS Sustainable Port Development Professionals Certification Scheme.

Their contributions highlighted the new career opportunities emerging from the green and digital transition of ports, as well as the knowledge and skills that are becoming increasingly important in the sector. Particular emphasis was placed on energy management, environmental protection, climate adaptation, emissions monitoring, digitalization and automation, alongside transversal skills such as communication, adaptability and lifelong learning.

The open discussion that followed gave participants the opportunity to ask questions, exchange views with industry professionals and explore different career paths in the port sector.

Through the BLUE PORTS Academy, the BLUE PORTS project is expanding its skills development and workforce capacity-building activities, investing in the next generation of professionals and preparing them for the demands and opportunities arising from the green and digital transition of ports.

*About BLUE PORTS

BLUE PORTS (BLUE CAREERS IN NET ZERO ENERGY PORTS) supports the green transition of ports, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized ports, through the development of an innovative training and certification scheme for port-sector personnel, in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17024 standard. The scheme promotes the skills required for sustainable port operations, enhancing competitiveness, professional development and the creation of green jobs. It has been piloted in countries across the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. As part of the project, digital training materials have been developed, and more than 200 professionals and 100 emerging talents have received training.

The project is coordinated by the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Laboratory (ReSEL) at the Technical University of Crete and implemented by eight partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Georgia and Tunisia, with the involvement of 44 supporting organizations, including port authorities, governance bodies, social partners, members of the academic community, certification experts and other stakeholders representing the port ecosystem. In Greece, the consortium includes the Heraklion Port Authority and TÜV NORD, while the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy participates as an associated partner.

BLUE PORTS is co-funded by the European Commission’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021–2027.

For more information: www.blue-ports.eu | info<at>blue-ports.eu