Zero C - Enhancing Knowledge and Skills at WB HEIs in Preparation for Zero Carbon Maritime Transport and Logistics Society

The Zero C project aims to create the necessary conditions in higher education in Albania and Montenegro to provide the shipping industry or governmental institutions with competent and industry-oriented employees. These employees of the future can either solve challenges such as decarbonization, energy transition and logistics optimization in practice or implement IMO and EU policies in the shipping sector. The project therefore supports the capacities of maritime Higher Education Institutions in the West Balkan.

The project is being carried out jointly by the Institute of Maritime Logistics (MLS) and partners from Albania, Montenegro, Greece, Italian higher education, and port sector.

Project duration	01.11.2023 – 31.10.2026
Project funding	European Union (EU)
Our status	Project partner
Contact person	Andreas Mohr, Shubhangi Gupta
Project link	https://zeroc-project.com/
Project partners	The project consortium constits of:
	Aleksandër Moisiu University Durres (UAMD), Albania Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Maritime Logistics (MLS), Germany Ismail Qemali University Vlora (UV), Albania Durres Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Albania General Maritime Directorate (GMD), Albania University of Montenegro (UOM), Montenegro Privredna komora Crne Gore (PKCG), Montenegro Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Montenegro ITS Logistica Puglia (ITS), Italy National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece

Description

The Paris Agreement's goals are being addressed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU), who have established policies to decrease Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the shipping sector for maritime transport, logistics, and port operations. Over the coming years, these policy reforms will force ship owners and builders to find ways to improve their ship's and port's energy efficiency and install new or retrofit existing ship's engines for supporting new marine fuels with lower carbon intensity. These policy reforms ultimately support the goal of achieving zero carbon emissions in the sector. The demand for enhanced energy efficiency and decarbonization will drive optimization in logistics and port operations.

The Zero C project aims to provide students in Albania and Montenegro with the required competencies to face these challenges. Therefore, the educational capacities of the West Balkan Higher Education Institutes will be increased and improved.

The project's main activities include developing of shipping industry specific skills-oriented course catalogues and innovative teaching / training materials and methodology. Furthermore, lecturers will be provided with state of the art equipment for supporting industry skills-oriented courses for students and professionals (for lifelong learning). To create the required capacities, a know-how transfer to the Higher Education Institution staff in specific topics will be initialized and a regional network of stakeholders in the shipping sector will be established.

The Zero C project will benefit at least 50+ staff and 300 students from West Balkan Higher Education Institutes, as well as 60 professionals from WB shipping and port companies and governmental institutions. The project's outputs will be delivered through 4 work packages and 15 deliverables.

The research project "Zero C" is funded by the European Union (EU) ERASMUS2027 programme - project no. 101128747.

Publications (Excerpt)

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Title: Assessing Knowledge Gaps about Shipping Emissions: Designing Educational Programs for Sustainable Maritime Logistics for Future Professionals in Albania & Montenegro. <em>CEST2025</em>

Written by: Carnimeo, D. and Stamatopoulou, E.A. and Mohr, A. and Gagic, R. and Nikolic, D. and Metalla, O. and Stefanucci, A. and Ventikos, Nikolaos

in: (2025).

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Address: Kos, Greece

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DOI: 10.30955/gnc2025.00361

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Note: zeroc

Abstract: This study assesses knowledge gaps among Albanian and Montenegrin maritime professionals regarding EU shipping emissions and their implication on current and future curricula. Survey data revealed educational needs across economic, legislative, and engineering domains. Utilizing IMO model course frameworks and competence-based assessment methodologies, we propose structured educational interventions to facilitate knowledge transfer from established EU member states to the West Balkan countries. The findings contribute to environmental management policy by addressing regional capacity development needs for maritime emissions compliance, technological innovation and best practices.