The shipping industry stands at a turning point. As the world pushes to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, seafarers face a major shift in their everyday work. The push for greener shipping doesn’t end with new fuels and engines. It will demand new skills, new training and new kinds of certification — if seafarers want to stay relevant and safe.
In the report Tides of Change: A Framework for Developing Just and Inclusive Green Shipping Corridors the authors warn, on page 8, that up to 800,000 of the roughly 1.8 million active seafarers worldwide will need additional training by the mid-2030s.
Already, many of the skills and certifications that once sufficed will no longer do. Ships that sail under so-called green corridors or that run on alternative, low-carbon fuels will need crews who understand the new risks and technologies. That means training for handling alternative fuels, fuel systems, bunkering procedures, fuel safety, emergency protocols and environmental standards.
Let me explain how the regulatory framework is shaping up — and what it likely means for you if you sail, or plan to do so.
Why seafarers must prepare — what’s coming
The momentum comes from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Their proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF) aims to force big ships (over 5,000 gross tonnage) to lower their greenhouse-gas emissions. The idea: a global fuel standard requiring all ships to gradually switch to cleaner fuels or lower-carbon fuel blends, measured over the full “well-to-wake” lifecycle of the fuel.
Under NZF, ships would need to meet yearly fuel-intensity targets from 2028. Vessels that fail will pay penalties or buy “remedial units,” while low-emission ships can earn credits or contribute to a dedicated fund for clean-fuel adoption.
The push for cleaner shipping aligns with major global pressure. Governments, shippers, fuel suppliers, port operators: all will need to adjust. That means alternative fuels will become more common — biofuels, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen blends or other low-flashpoint fuels. Ships retrofitted or built for such fuels fall under existing safety rules.
That brings us to a code many seafarers already have to know: the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).
The IGF Code originally covers use of gases — like LNG — or other fuels with a low flashpoint under a critical threshold. It specifies how fuel machinery must be arranged, installed and monitored to ensure safety. The Code entered into force in 2017 after adoption by IMO.
Already under IGF, seafarers working on such ships must follow special training and certification requirements. The training covers safe handling of fuel systems, emergency response, fire prevention, fuel containment, bunkering procedures and environmental protection.
With the shift to a broader range of low-carbon fuels (not just LNG), the need for training will expand. The IGF Code already allows for other low-flashpoint fuels — methanol, ammonia, hydrogen. Ship registries and classification societies have updated their rules accordingly.
Therefore, future seafarers will likely need: familiarization with the specific fuel used; advanced training for masters and engineers responsible for fuel systems; and updated safety and emergency-response certification.
In short: basic seafaring skills remain important — but they will join a growing set of new competencies focused on green fuels, safety and emissions compliance.
How IMO already pushes new training and what’s next
The report “Tides of Change” sees training and upskilling as a central piece of a just transition. It emphasises building local workforce capacities, knowledge transfers, and designing green-corridor projects with training embedded.
Meanwhile, on the regulatory side, the IGF Code remains the foundation for safe operations on ships using low-flashpoint fuels. Training under IGF already splits into at least two levels: basic familiarization for crew with general safety duties, and advanced training for officers with direct responsibility for fuels and fuel systems.
This means the maritime training institutions and maritime administrations will have to scale up — not only for LNG but also for a broader set of fuels as the green transition unfolds.
Starting 2024, the Code itself has seen amendments. The regulatory bodies keep updating technical requirements for fuel containment, fire safety, materials, and overall design and operation guidelines under IGF.
As green shipping corridors expand, and alternative fuels become more common, seafarers will likely need to prove competency in exactly the fuel type used onboard. That may include fuel-specific certification or endorsements, depending on the flag state and vessel type.
NZF postponed — but nothing stops momentum
It is important to note: during the last extraordinary session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in October 2025, member states agreed to postpone adoption of the Net-Zero Framework by one year.
That means formal global rules will not yet apply — at least until the vote reconvenes in 2026. Still, many industry stakeholders expect NZF to pass eventually. Pressure from regulators, ports, fuel producers and societies favour adoption.
Even without immediate legal force, the shift toward alternative fuels and low-carbon operations already moves forward. Shipowners who want to stay ahead, and charterers or cargo owners demanding lower emissions, likely will push for compliance with best-available standards. That means more ships will get retrofitted or built for low-flashpoint fuels. Crew training will follow.
Thus, seafarers who start thinking ahead — upskilling, seeking additional certification under IGF or fuel-specific modules — will gain a significant advantage.
What IGF means — and why it matters
The IGF Code fills a vital role in this transition. Under the code, any ship that uses gases or other low-flashpoint fuels for propulsion must meet safety standards. The code regulates everything from fuel storage and containment, to machinery, venting systems, fire safety, emergency procedures and crew training.
Beyond technical rules, IGF imposes operational requirements: crews must receive appropriate training depending on their duties. Masters, engineers, and others responsible for fuel use and fuel systems must complete “advanced training.” Other seafarers with safety or fuel-handling duties must at least get “basic familiarization.”
The code officially entered into force on 1 January 2017. Still, as new fuels (methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, bio-fuels) enter shipping, the code’s scope expands. Administration and classification societies continuously update guidance and regulations to cover these fuels.
Therefore IGF — and the associated training — stands already as maritime’s baseline for safe, low-emission propulsion. As the industry moves toward net zero, it will likely become even more central.
What this means for seafarers — take care about your future
If you sail, or plan to work at sea, now is the time to act. Relying on old certifications may not be enough in a few years. Alternative fuels and stricter emissions rules will demand new competencies.
Signing up for training under IGF Code requirements, or fuel-specific courses, will likely pay off. Masters and engineers would benefit most when they take advanced training focused on handling low-flashpoint fuels, bunkering procedures, fuel safety, emergency response and environmental compliance.
Vessel operators and shipping companies will need to plan human-resources development earlier. They must anticipate that many seafarers will need retraining or reskilling. Green-corridor projects should embed training and certification from the start, rather than treating them as an afterthought.
Even though adoption of the NZF is delayed, the broader trend remains clear. Ships will increasingly sail on alternative fuels. Regulations will tighten. The industry will demand new skills and certifications.
For you, this transition could mean better job security — provided you prepare now. It could also open new opportunities: operating green-fuel ships, becoming part of pioneering green-corridor crews, or even working with bunkering and alternative-fuel logistics.
