MARITIME INNOVATORS is delighted to announce the acceptance of MARiTECH, a new Erasmus+ partnership that brings maritime education, industry experience and immersive technology together to improve how maintenance skills are learned and practised.
The two-year project began on 1 October 2026 and will run until 01 September 2028. Its full title is “Navigating Excellence through VR and AR Distance Training for Maintenance Implementation”. Partners held their first online kickoff meeting on 14 October 2026, opening a shared programme of work across Romania, Greece, Portugal, Türkiye and the Netherlands.
From maritime knowledge to practical confidence
Shipboard maintenance training asks learners to connect technical knowledge with safe, accurate action. Access to equipment, time for supervised practice and opportunities to repeat complex tasks can all be limited. MARiTECH will explore how immersive learning can give students and maritime professionals more opportunities to practise in a controlled environment before applying their skills at work.
The project will map occupational needs, structure competence-based learning and develop at least three virtual reality training scenarios for maritime maintenance. These will be supported by assessment methods, trainer preparation and pilots across the five partner countries. The aim is to make learning more accessible and relevant to industry, while examining its potential to reduce training risks and costs.
Although VR and AR both feature in the project title, the core development programme centres on VR scenarios, with scope to support future AR applications. The partnership will shape the detailed learning and technical approach as implementation progresses.
A new chapter for MARITIME INNOVATORS
For MARITIME INNOVATORS, MARiTECH marks an exciting step further into VR and extended reality (XR). It builds on our work in digital learning, maritime communication, simulation and seafarer development, bringing us closer to a vision in which professional experience becomes practical, engaging learning.
Our ambition is to help maritime professionals develop the judgement, confidence and competence they need in real operations. Technology has value when it helps people learn, make better decisions and carry that learning into their work. This is the direction we want to advance through MARiTECH.
We will contribute the maritime industry perspective to training design and scenario validation, support engagement with maritime professionals and pilot activities in Türkiye, and help share the project’s work with the wider sector. Our focus will be on operational relevance, usable training and benefits that matter to learners, educators and employers.
Five countries, one shared ambition
MARiTECH is coordinated by CERONAV in Romania. The partnership brings together Metropolitan College in Greece, Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH) in Portugal, Maritime Innovators in Türkiye and KYCOS B.V. in the Netherlands.
The first online kickoff gave partners an opportunity to exchange perspectives and begin aligning their work. Further technical discussions will help translate the project’s objectives into training scenarios, development priorities and a coordinated implementation plan.
We are proud to be part of this partnership and grateful to our colleagues for the expertise and commitment they bring. Acceptance is an encouraging milestone; our excitement lies in the work ahead and the practical value we can create together.
Follow MARITIME INNOVATORS for updates as MARiTECH develops, from competence mapping and scenario design to trainer preparation and pilot learning.
MARiTECH | Erasmus+ KA220-VET | Project reference: 2026-1-RO01-KA220-VET-000451193