Not all maritime education happens in universities or training centres. Some of it is found in documentaries, podcasts, YouTube channels, heritage archives, public lectures, blogs, informal mentorship, exhibitions, apps, and story-sharing spaces.
This subcategory highlights the alternative and complementary resources that expand maritime learning beyond the classroom – and often inspire people to begin or deepen their journey.
It also invites learners to be creative: to use art, storytelling, and technology to make maritime knowledge visible, personal, and meaningful.
Key Topics include:
Open access repositories and creative platformsThese resources remind us that learning is not just structured – it's lived.
By showcasing different ways of learning, we make education more human, more accessible, and more inspiring.
Some learners discover maritime careers because they saw a film. Others keep growing through communities, art, or chance encounters. These resources bring in heart, heritage, and personal voice.
They’re especially important for cross-cultural understanding, youth engagement, and outreach in non-traditional spaces.
• Explore maritime museums like IMO’s Maritime Heritage Hub, Greenwich Maritime Museum, or Galata Museo del Mare
• Follow YouTube creators or podcasts like What is Going on With Shipping?, Shipping Podcast, Maritime History Podcast
• Watch documentaries (Sea Blind, The Forgotten Space, Oceans)
• Attend public maritime lectures or virtual heritage tours
• Use apps and games focused on navigation, ship design, or climate education
• Contribute to or explore platforms like Maritude, where stories, insights, and creative content meet structured learning
For Students / Learners
“You don’t need permission to learn. If the formal gates are closed, walk the coastline. Listen to stories. Watch the horizon. You’ll find your way.”
For Colleges / Educators
“Not all knowledge wears a tie. Make room in your curriculum for voices from outside – they carry wisdom too.”
• Many maritime museums now offer free virtual tours and open archives
• The Shipping Podcast, hosted by Lena Göthberg, has over 200 episodes with maritime professionals worldwide
• Oral history is a growing field in maritime studies – collecting seafarer stories for education and preservation
1. What was the most unexpected resource that taught you something about maritime life?
2. How can storytelling and creative formats improve maritime education?
3. Why is it important to preserve maritime stories, heritage, and informal knowledge?
