Second Meeting of the "Blue Ports" Project

On March 10, 2025, the second consultation meeting of the National Technical Committee for the European Commission-funded project "Blue Ports" (BLUE PORTS) was held. Professor George Gabedava, Head of the International Relations Serivce at Batumi Navigation Teaching University (BNTU), attended the meeting.

The meeting aimed to deepen the foundations of the BLUE PORTS certification scheme, develop scheme requirements, and validate the proposed training methodology and syllabus. Topics discussed included:

• Validation of the proposed training methodology and syllabus;
• Definition of further elements of the certification scheme, including: tasks defined for BLUE PORTS specializations related to the learning objectives, skills, and competencies specified in the training syllabus; assessment methodology and criteria.

During the meeting, the results of market research on green skills needs in the port sector in Greece, Spain, Italy, and Georgia were discussed, as well as the key aspects of the BLUE PORTS certification scheme and training methodology.

The BLUE PORTS project, funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) program for 2021-2027, aims to strengthen human capital skills and capabilities in the port ecosystem to support the green transformation of ports.

Expected project outcomes include:

• Development of digital learning materials and tools
• Training of more than 200 specialists and more than 150 young talents
• Improvement of safety and operational efficiency
• Creation of new, environmentally friendly jobs in the port industry

The BLUE PORTS consortium is led by the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory of Crete Technical University (TUC), which brings together eight partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Georgia, and Tunisia, along with 26 supporting organizations.

Batumi Navigation Teaching University continues its involvement in international projects, ensuring harmonization with European standards and the transfer of modern knowledge and skills to students.