Speakers
Session Five: Human element and skills gap
This session examines how Gulf maritime stakeholders are preparing for global decarbonisation efforts, with an emphasis on the human element. Referencing international frameworks such as MARPOL, FuelEU Maritime, and STCW, it evaluates readiness across legal, educational, operational, and infrastructural dimensions. Key gaps are identified in training curricula, crew adaptability, fuel safety awareness, and port capabilities. The case of Sharjah Maritime Academy illustrates how technical innovation can be effectively integrated with workforce development. The session offers region-specific insights and practical strategies for addressing regulatory, technical, and human-capital challenges—particularly relevant to professionals in maritime education, regulation, operations, and port development.
Dr. Capt. Ashraf Ragab is an Associate Professor of Maritime Transport at Sharjah Maritime Academy (SMA), UAE, where he specialises in maritime education, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability transitions. He is a licensed German Master Mariner Unlimited with extensive seafaring and academic experience across Europe and the Gulf region.
Dr. Ragab earned his Ph.D. in Nautical Sciences from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and holds an M.Sc. in International Maritime Management from Jade University of Applied Sciences, Germany. His professional portfolio includes roles as lecturer, maritime consultant, and evacuation systems researcher under EU-funded projects such as PALAEMON.
His research focuses on the integration of human-centred design into maritime education, safety management, and green transition strategies. He is particularly passionate about bridging the operational and academic aspects of the maritime industry, and his work often intersects with regulatory reform, MET curriculum innovation, and port readiness in the context of decarbonisation.