Maritime education and training (MET) for seafarers who operate ships has struggled to flexibly adapt to technological and environmental changes. In particular, as social demand for online MET arose due to COVID-19, the need for sustainable MET beyond traditional teaching methods grew exponentially. In order to identify the most optimal MET methods among face-to-face and online methods, this study reviewed the concepts and applications of existing MET methods, grouped them using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, and supplemented this structure through a designed survey. The results showed that the online methods had the greatest weight, and the “XR (extended reality) within the metaverse” teaching method had the highest priority. This study identified which MET methods should be prepared for the post-COVID era through quantitative analysis. We confirmed the need for attention to XR within the metaverse as a field of online methods in the future. Furthermore, our findings reveal that online education platforms via metaverse-based “expansion” and “connection” are needed, and pave the way for future research to expand empirical studies on MET satisfaction regarding existing International Maritime Organization model courses.

From January 2020, the International Maritime Organization has regulated ship emissions to reduce sulfur content. As an alternative to this, LNG bunkering was proposed, and infrastructure and ships were deployed. Therefore, we used analytic hierarchy process AHP techniques to determine optimal methods of LNG bunkering for shipyard safety. First, we conducted a literature survey on the concept and type of LNG bunkering, global LNG bunkering trends, and features of Japan and South Korea cases and compared them. Thereafter, an expert survey was conducted, and survey data was analyzed using AHP techniques. Finally, we derived optimal methods applicable to shipyard industry. The analytical results revealed that the derived priority of the optimal LNG bunkering method of shipyard was in the order of the STS method, TTS method, and the PTS method. The result of this study can serve as a theoretical basis to make LNG bunkering safer and more economical in shipyards to prepare for the expansion of demand of LNG-fueled ships and LNG. However, this study inevitably has limitations of ranking reversals paradox as it was conducted by experts, assuming no weights to STS, TTS, or PTS.

Recently, the introduction of Industry 4.0 (the Fourth Industrial Revolution) has led to major changes in industry and the emergence of new technologies and services. Maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) industries are also striving to develop technologies to gain positions as shipbuilding powerhouses, as an opportunity to change the paradigm of the shipbuilding industry. This study conducted an analysis of recent trends in the shipbuilding industry, and analyzed the technical issues concerning the introduction of autonomous ships through in-depth interviews with experts from companies, universities, and research institutes related to the shipbuilding industry. According to the results of the study, the development of technologies such as those for safe navigation, economic maneuvering, and automatic maintenance for autonomous ships should precede development, along with early participation in the preparation of technical standards necessary for International Maritime Organization (IMO) performance requirements, design standards, and manufacturing standards. This research is meaningful by gathering and analyzing opinions from experts in the shipbuilding sector who possess the world"s best technologies to present effective technical policy implications.