Maritime Trainers Complete LNG Workshop in Japan
Trainers from four Southeast Asian nations completed an IMO-backed workshop on alternative-fuel ship training held from 22 to 30 October.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Cruises
Maritime trainers from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam completed a train-the-trainer workshop in Japan from 22 to 30 October. The workshop marked the start of the second phase of a regional LNG seafarer training project.
Why it matters
Seafarers on ships fueled by LNG must complete mandatory training under the STCW Convention and Code to operate them safely. The workshop helps build local trainer capacity to deliver that instruction across the region.
The workshop involved four trainers from four countries, four of whom were women, over an eight-day program from 22 to 30 October. The stub does not specify how many trainers will go on to deliver courses in their home countries.
The players
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The United Nations agency responsible for regulating international shipping, which leads the project alongside Japan's ministry and runs it under its Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Japan's national ministry overseeing transport and tourism policy, which co-leads the regional LNG seafarer training project with the IMO.
The details
The workshop combined classroom lectures with LNG bunkering simulator training at the Marine Technical College and emergency response exercises at the Maritime Disaster Prevention Centre. Participants also visited an LNG-fuelled ferry and a hydrogen-powered tugboat.
Timeline
22-30 October 2026: Train-the-trainer workshop held in Japan.
Big Picture
The workshop extends the STCW Convention and Code, the IMO framework that sets minimum training standards for seafarers, by preparing regional instructors to teach requirements for ships using alternative fuels. Its focus on LNG follows the IGF Code, which governs ships running on gas fuels.
Travelers booking cruises on LNG-fueled ships can expect crews trained to a common regional standard. The training itself does not change ticket prices, boarding procedures or itineraries for passengers.
The takeaway
Training standards for alternative-fuel ships are spreading beyond a few flagship operators as regional trainers gain the skills to teach them. Cruise and ferry operators in the region will increasingly draw on crews certified under these programs.
Further reading
For more on ship travel and sea routes, explore our Cruises section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.
