PraC-MARENG Plus Kick-off Meeting Held in Constanța, Romania

The PraC-MARENG Plus “PRActical and Communication-based MARitime ENGlish Plus” project officially launched with its Kick-off Partner Meeting, held on 11–12 December 2025 in Constanța, Romania, hosted by Constanta Maritime University.

The meeting brought together representatives from all partner institutions across Europe, marking the first formal step in a 24-month Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation (KA220-HED) project, supported by the Romanian National Agency. The event provided an opportunity for partners to align on the project vision, implementation strategy, and long-term impact.

Setting a Common Vision

During the two-day meeting, partners discussed the overall project framework, confirming a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. PraC-MARENG Plus aims to address a well-recognised gap in maritime education: the lack of standardised Maritime English training for port and shore personnel, despite the critical role communication plays in safe and efficient port operations.

While Standard Maritime Communication Phrases (SMCP) are well established for seagoing personnel, structured communication training for shore-based maritime professionals remains limited. PraC-MARENG Plus responds to this challenge by developing a digital, job-oriented, and standardised training programme tailored specifically to port and shore operational contexts.

Focus on Safety, Digitalisation, and Relevance

The consortium reaffirmed its commitment to designing learning content that reflects real operational scenarios, current maritime regulations, and the ongoing digital transformation of the maritime sector. The programme will combine practical language training with interactive learning elements and assessment tools, ensuring relevance for both education providers and industry stakeholders.

The project primarily targets:

• Port and shore personnel involved in daily maritime operations

• Maritime students preparing for shore-based careers

• Higher education institutions and maritime training centres

• Port authorities and industry stakeholders seeking improved safety and communication standards

By strengthening communication skills across ship-shore interfaces, PraC-MARENG Plus aims to contribute directly to safer operations, improved efficiency, and enhanced workforce mobility within the European maritime sector.

Strong European Collaboration

The Kick-off Meeting highlighted the strength of the partnership, which brings together complementary expertise in maritime education, language training, digital learning, and applied research. Partners exchanged perspectives on national contexts, institutional experience, and industry needs, reinforcing the project’s European added value.

Partnership emphasised the importance of building solutions grounded in hands-on maritime experience, academic expertise, and practical applicability, ensuring that project outcomes remain sustainable beyond the funding period.

Looking Ahead

With a shared roadmap and strong collaboration established, the PraC-MARENG Plus partnership now moves into the implementation phase. Over the coming months, the project will focus on content development, platform design, piloting activities, and stakeholder engagement across Europe.

PraC-MARENG Plus represents an important step toward standardising Maritime English training for port and shore personnel, supporting the broader goals of safety, digitalisation, and sustainable development within European maritime education and industry.