The second round of the METAVASEA survey indicates that maritime transport companies in the Eastern Mediterranean are increasing awareness and strategic alignment regarding carbon reduction, but at the same time, there are growing gaps in operational capacity, workforce readiness, and public understanding of the actual environmental impacts of this industry.
Key Findings and Existing Challenges
This survey, conducted between December 2024 and November 2025, collected 1,182 responses from five stakeholder groups including seafarers, transport companies, port authorities, service providers, and civil societies and port cities. This figure, combined with data from the first and second rounds, totals 2,080 responses.
Among the key findings of this report, seafarer fatigue has been identified as the main safety concern in this industry. 69% of seafarers selected fatigue as their most significant safety concern, which is nearly equal to the first round (70%). Other major concerns include lack of proper training (25%), lack of communication (24%), how to deal with unfamiliar equipment (24%), and the use of new alternative fuels (22%).
Progress in Training and Awareness
The level of seafarers' familiarity with carbon reduction frameworks has increased in this survey. Familiarity with the EU ETS scheme rose from 34% in the first round to 47% in the second round. Similarly, familiarity with FuelEU increased from 33% to 45%, and familiarity with the IMO GHG strategy rose from 45% to 56%.
Despite these advancements, many seafarers still reported that they have not received any training on carbon reduction. However, 45% of respondents stated that they have received carbon reduction training in the past two years, up from 36% in the first round.
While maritime transport companies are increasing their priorities in leadership and teamwork, seafarers continue to emphasize compliance and adaptability skills. There are deep gaps between these two groups in this regard that require more attention.
Zero-carbon strategies are improving, but operational gaps are widening. 22% of transport company representatives reported having a zero-carbon strategy aligned with the IMO target for 2050, while 9% are considering additional strategies. 59% of companies also have a dedicated manager or department for sustainability.
However, three operational barriers, including financial constraints, lack of operational capacities, and lack of awareness of available solutions, have increased. The use of environmentally friendly fuels has been recognized as the main transitional fuel, with 59% of transport companies utilizing it.
