Seafarers' current awareness, knowledge, motivation and ideas towards low carbon – energy efficient operations

International and National concern about detrimental climate change has generated pressure for the shipping industry to play its’ role in reducing the 3.3% of global carbon emission it emits; based on 2007 figures. On the 1st January 2013 the International Maritime Organisation enforced regulations to support the reduction of shipping carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency. These measures directly and indirectly affect the daily operations of seafarers, onshore performance personnel, and managerial personnel with influence over operational procedures. Consequently, these personnel need the awareness, knowledge, skills, and motivation to successfully implement required operational changes; yet there is no formalised framework for providing this. Focusing on seafarers, a questionnaire was distributed in the last quarter of 2011 to investigate current levels of awareness, knowledge and motivation towards carbon emissions in general and towards shipping carbon emissions. It also investigated opinions as to which personnel have the most influence over carbon reduction and what are the most important operational improvements that can be made. 317 questionnaire responses were collected. The primary benefit of this study is to support the development of a framework including Low Carbon – Energy Efficiency maritime education and training program which is shown to be needed.