Genoa, 14 March 2024 – As the maritime industry works towards a more sustainable future, the Italian Shipping Academy (Fondazione Accademia Italiana della Marina Mercantile) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the CLIA Cruise Week in Genoa to develop together activities in recognition of their mutual interests in the field of maritime education and training.
The aims of the MoU, signed at the Jean Nouvel Pavillion at the Genoa Fair by Italian Shipping Academy’s President Mr. Eugenio Massolo and CLIA’s Director General, Europe Mme Marie-Caroline Laurent, will include collaborative activities to encourage young people to consider a career at sea. The partnership between CLIA and IMSSEA (International Maritime Safety Security and Environment Academy) – the international agency of the Italian Shipping Academy – will include a wide collaboration in international projects, particularly in the areas of environmental protection and safety.
Eugenio Massolo, President of the Italian Shipping Academy: “This MoU is a significant milestone for the Italian maritime industry and for our institution as well, because it can bring a stronger relationship between the Association and the future crews onboard. We are very glad to sign it today in Genoa, and we are looking forward to being involved in CLIA’s next activities to be engaged in a wider range of global opportunities.”
Marie-Caroline Laurent, Director General, Europe CLIA: “The cruise industry provides fantastic career options, offering an inclusive, multicultural work environment with excellent opportunities for advancement. We are very pleased to be building our cooperation with the Italian Shipping Academy to help inspire the next generation of seafarers”.
Marie-Caroline Laurent, Director General, Europe CLIA
In 2024 cruise lines will employ a multinational workforce of nearly 300,000 seafarers, and tens of thousands of employees on land. CLIA member lines rely on a truly global workforce, representing more than 150 countries. The industry offers excellent opportunities for advancement and is proud of its high retention rates which are upwards of 80%.
CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. On behalf of its members, affiliates, and partners, the organization supports policies and practices that foster a secure, healthy, and sustainable cruise ship environment, promoting positive travel experiences for the more than 30 million passengers who have cruised annually. The CLIA community includes the world’s most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and widespread industry stakeholders, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers, and business services. CLIA represents 95% of the world’s ocean-going cruise capacity, as well as 54,000 travel agents, and 15,000 of the largest travel agencies in the world.
The Italian Shipping Academy, founded in 2005 and recognized as the ITS Foundation in 2011 with the name of “Higher Technical Institute Foundation for Sustainable Mobility – Maritime Transport and Fishing Sectors”, is a public institution that issues qualifications from the Ministry of Education in tertiary education. The “mission” of the Academy is to provide specialized training aimed at occupations with a high professional and technological content, based on the needs of companies in the industry, and in particular in the strategic areas of maritime and logistics.