Holger Jäde

Advisor Recruiting and Training – VDR

Holger Jäde (born January 1, 1964) is an accomplished maritime professional with extensive expertise in leadership, maritime education, emergency management, quality management (ISO 9001), and international maritime affairs. He holds a Diploma in Nautical Science along with Master Mariner qualifications, combining years of hands-on seafaring experience with strategic executive roles in major maritime institutions.

His maritime career began in 1983, progressing from Able Seaman to Master Mariner. Between 1992 and 1999, he served as Chief Officer and Master Mariner on merchant vessels for international shipping companies, gaining comprehensive operational experience in worldwide trade. He then transitioned to shore-based operations from 1999 to 2002 as a Nautical Officer and Deputy Harbour Master at the German Navy Base in Wilhelmshaven, where he was responsible for personnel management, logistics, and harbour operations.

Over the following two decades, he established a distinguished track record in maritime safety and emergency response. From 2002 to 2007, he served as Deputy Head of Department and Nautical Officer at the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (Havariekommando), specializing in maritime firefighting and operational coordination. Between 2007 and 2008, he led the Ship Safety Training Centre under the Waterways and Shipping Administration, where he established a new training facility and modernized training curricula. He later returned to the Havariekommando as Deputy Head of Department from 2019 to 2022, leading maritime pollution response, ship accident management, and complex emergency operations.

In the realm of vocational training and strategy, Mr. Jäde served as Managing Director of Berufsbildungsstelle Seeschifffahrt e.V. from 2008 to 2019, overseeing strategic management, personnel, budgeting, quality management, and curriculum development. Since January 2023, he has been the Training Advisor for the German Shipowners’ Association (Verband Deutscher Reeder), responsible for vocational education and training across the German shipping industry.

In addition to his administrative and operational roles, he has been a prominent figure in international diplomacy within the sector. He has served as a member of the German Delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 2009 and was appointed an IMO Maritime Ambassador from 2015 to 2019, actively promoting maritime careers and education globally.