How Karen Kancens connects life at sea to life ashore

A sailor who has spent years at sea knows the ship inside and out. But step onto the dock, into an office, and that expertise doesn’t always translate. It’s a gap Karen Kancens has spent her career trying to close.

Throughout her career at the Shipping Federation of Canada, Kancens has overseen the organization’s communications, customs and immigration, and policy and trade divisions. Now she serves as its vice president.

Kancens is lending her expertise in trade policy and regulation to help existing and aspiring marine transportation professionals in Concordia Continuing Education’s Certificate in Marine Transportation, delivered in partnership with the Shipping Federation of Canada for over 30 years. The program gives marine shipping professionals a ship-to-shore view of the industry’s complexities so they can coordinate more effectively across operations.

Why was the Certificate in Marine Transportation program first created?

Karen Kancens: When it was first developed, there was nothing in Canada specifically focused on the marine industry. There were programs related to logistics, but this certificate was designed for people working in or entering shipping and wanting to understand the industry more broadly.

It still has that same focus today. The program looks at shipping as an international industry but places it within a Canadian context, and the ongoing partnership with Concordia is also part of what makes it distinctive.

What knowledge gaps does the program help marine shipping workers address?

KK: A good example would be people who have worked on ships. When they move ashore, there is often a gap between what they know from experience at sea and what they understand about the shore-based side of the industry. The program helps translate that experience and connect it to how shipping companies function on land.

We also see people from government departments whose mandates affect shipping. They may not need highly technical knowledge, but they do need to understand how the industry works in order to develop policy or regulations that affect it.

Then there are also professionals with legal or commercial experience who may not have a clear understanding of trade patterns or shipboard operations. 

Why do marine professionals need to understand the entire shipping system?

KK: Shipping functions as an ecosystem, and it helps to understand how its different parts interact. People often work within a specific segment, and over time they develop expertise in that area, but it can be hard to gain visibility into the rest of the sector.

Traditionally, people learn about the broader industry through on-the-job experience. While that can be valuable, it is not always the most efficient way to build a wider perspective.

The program helps fill that gap. For someone in a highly technical role, it provides more of an overview of the industry and the geopolitical, operational, and regulatory factors that affect shipping. For someone working in a commercial or administrative role, it helps explain the operational realities behind the business.