YoungShip puts focus on attracting and developing shipping’s next generation

YoungShip is campaigning to attract and nurture shipping's future workforce as the industry grapples with technological, regulatory and geopolitical changes. At its inaugural ShipCon conference in Copenhagen this summer, the Denmark-based network addressed how to engage young talent who must navigate an industry whose scope extends far beyond ships, containers and ports.

Young professionals in shipping often lack awareness of the broader issues they will encounter and the diverse opportunities the sector offers. YoungShip aims to raise that awareness and foster networks that span companies and national borders. Founded in Norway, YoungShip Denmark now counts more than 5,000 members spanning 30 countries.

In Denmark alone, the network has grown to around 600 members in three years. Its growing influence is underpinned by a broad range of expertise among its members, from operators and traders to lawyers, engineers and technology specialists. ShipCon brought together delegates from four continents for three days of discussions on geopolitical shifts, regulation, AI, digitalisation, the green transition and the maritime skills gap.

Keynote speakers included Simon Bergulf of the World Shipping Council and Peter Appel of Gorrissen Federspiel. The conference highlighted Denmark's central role in global shipping, underlining the importance of sharing knowledge across companies, national borders and disciplines. YoungShip stresses that its role is not to turn specialists into generalists, but to help professionals understand the broader context of their work.

The network stresses that creating maritime career pathways is a shared responsibility for companies, industry bodies, educational institutions and professional networks to ensure a pipeline of young talent for the future.