Skills4Sea Presented at International Workshop on Floating Offshore Wind Energy in Varna, Bulgaria
Anna Karadencheva
4/9/20261 min read
On 26 February 2026, a seminar and business workshop titled “Floating Offshore Wind Energy and the I3FLOAT Innovation Roadmap” was held in Varna, Bulgaria, organized by Marine Cluster Bulgaria. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, research organizations, public institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises, to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with developing floating offshore wind energy in the Black Sea region.
During the event, soft skills specialist in the maritime sector, Dr. Anna Karadencheva, presented the Skills4Sea project (Skills Acquisition for Sea)—a European initiative funded under the Erasmus+ programme, aimed at modernizing maritime vocational education and training (VET) through the development and recognition of non-formal (soft) skills in the sector
The project focuses on creating a harmonized framework for training, assessment, and certification of non-formal skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making—key competencies for safety and operational efficiency in the maritime industry. In addition, a digital assessment tool is being developed to enable the validation and recognition of these competencies in alignment with international standards (IMO, STCW) and European qualification frameworks.
As part of the presentation, a field study was conducted with participants, including surveys and discussions to assess the current state and needs related to soft skills development in the maritime sector. The study engaged both representatives of the shipping industry and maritime education and training institutions, in line with the project’s methodology, combining surveys, interviews, and evidence-based analysis.
The collected data will contribute to:
identifying key competencies required for maritime professionals;
developing detailed skills profiles and training modules;
designing scenarios based on critical maritime situations;
building an innovative framework for skills assessment and recognition.
The Skills4Sea project brings together leading European institutions and organizations, including Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, and aims to enhance workforce mobility, employability, and safety by integrating innovative, digital, and human-centric training approaches.
Participation in international events such as this highlights the growing importance of soft skills in the context of the maritime sector's green and digital transition and contributes to building a more resilient and competitive maritime industry in Europe.
