Essential Competencies in Maritime and Port Logistics: A Study on the Current Needs of the Sector

Luís Silva Lopes (), João Lemos Nabais, Claúdio Pinto, Vitor Caldeirinha and Tiago Pinho
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Luís Silva Lopes: Escola Superior de Ciências Empresariais, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Campus do IPS, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
João Lemos Nabais: IDMEC—Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Marketing and Logistics Department, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
Claúdio Pinto: APS—Administração do Porto de Sines e Algarve, 7520-203 Sines, Portugal
Vitor Caldeirinha: RESILIENCE—Center for Regional Resilience and Sustainability, Escola Superior de Ciências Empresariais, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
Tiago Pinho: RESILIENCE—Center for Regional Resilience and Sustainability, Escola Superior de Ciências Empresariais, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: This study addresses the critical gap between academic training and the competency demands of the maritime logistics and port management sector. Using a mixed-methods approach, it integrates benchmarking of postgraduate programs from leading universities, interviews with 15 stakeholders representing diverse industry profiles, and an in-depth curriculum analysis. The research identifies and categorizes essential technical, management, and interpersonal competencies, culminating in the development of a Competency Matrix to guide the alignment of academic curricula with industry requirements. Key competencies identified include strategic decision-making, operations management, data analysis, adaptability, teamwork, and customer engagement, all of which are critical to ensuring efficiency and competitiveness in the sector. This study introduces an innovative framework by combining benchmarking with qualitative insights, addressing a crucial gap in the literature while offering actionable strategies for academia to enhance training programs. The findings highlight the urgent need for universities to develop courses tailored to global challenges, such as digitalization, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. Although this study is exploratory and based on a limited sample size, it provides meaningful insights into the Portuguese maritime and port logistics sector, laying a solid foundation for future research. Further studies should investigate how innovation and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, are reshaping competency requirements in this dynamic and globalized industry.

Keywords: maritime and port logistics; essential competencies; professional training; educational benchmarking; stakeholders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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