Posidonia 2026: Supporting the Next Generation of Maritime Professionals

Dr Melis Özdel recently attended Posidonia 2026, where she participated in discussions on youth engagement and the future of the maritime sector. During the event, she signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening international collaboration and creating greater opportunities for young people entering the industry.

The discussions highlighted the importance of increasing awareness, accessibility and visibility of maritime careers, as well as the need to promote maritime as an interconnected ecosystem spanning law, engineering, technology, sustainability and business to keep global trade moving.

These themes are also relevant to the development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), which will require future maritime professionals to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries and adapt to emerging technologies. The event underscored issues that are central to ongoing discussions surrounding the future of maritime innovation and the skills and workforce required to support it.