– We must prioritize, Norway needs more Norwegian seafarers

The number of applicants for maritime subjects in high school has increased significantly in recent years, but we are facing a major challenge: There are not enough school places to meet the need. In five years, the number of applicants has increased by over 60 %, but the capacity in schools has not followed suit.

It takes a minimum of 4-5 years to achieve the lowest maritime competence certificates and certificates. Without more school places, we risk that enough seafarers are not trained to safeguard critical social functions.

Socially critical competence must take ahead

The youth coals in Norway are gradually reduced. According to Statistics Norway (Statistics Norway), the number of births drops, which means that there will be fewer young people to meet society’s need for critical labor in the future. At the same time, almost 700,000 people aged 20 to 66 are out of work or education – 20 percent of the working population. This is a challenge we cannot ignore.

Norway is an elongated country where sea transport plays a key role in passenger transport, flow of goods and security of supply. We depend on seafarers to staff the ships that ensure daily operations and to have a emergency capacity in crisis situations. The Navy, the Coast Guard, the Rescue Company and the commercial fleet need skilled seafarers with maritime certificates. Ships that carry goods and passenger transport on the coast, speedboats and ferries are critical for Norway’s infrastructure.

Although maritime education is more expensive than many other high school subjects, we must dare to prioritize them. The alternative is a future where Norway is without critical competence at sea. Now is the time to be more targeted in competence policy, and prioritize the competence that is crucial to society – both now and in the future.

Evelyn Blom-Dahl

Professional Director Business Policy

and competence

NHO shipping