STC Next

What STC Next does

STC Next is a Dutch private training and education organization headquartered at Waalhaven Z.z. 16 in Rotterdam, providing practice-oriented professional development for the maritime, inland shipping, logistics, and process industry sectors. Formed in 2023 through the merger of STC Training & Consultancy, STC International, and STC KNRM, the company operates with approximately 61 employees as a unified training provider for the port industrial complex. It serves a mixed client base: individual professionals and SMBs booking through stc-bv.nl and stc-international.nl, enterprise clients (terminal operators, shipping companies, logistics service providers), and public-sector entities (national and local governments, international development banks including UNESCAP and UNCTAD, and Erasmus+ consortium partners). The company maintains an international footprint with own training branches in South Africa, Oman, and Vietnam, and local project teams in Colombia, Brazil, and Indonesia.

The company's core offerings span vocational training at all mbo (Dutch vocational) levels, short practical training modules, STCW-compliant safety certifications, inland shipping qualifications aligned with EU Directive 2017/2397, lifelong learning programs, and strategic consultancy services. Its technology stack centers on state-of-the-art full mission simulators that replicate realistic maritime and inland waterway environments (including land, water, currents, wind, and depth), dedicated physical training facilities such as the Port Training Centre and Fire Safety Centre, and e-learning platforms extended through the River Academy partnership. Course delivery occurs through three primary channels: on-site training at own locations, in-company training at client premises, and online. The "train as you fight" training philosophy, regulatory alignment, and Rotterdam port-ecosystem anchoring are central to its methodology.

STC Next generates revenue primarily through two streams: course and training delivery (professional services for individual professionals and enterprise clients) and consultancy services (strategic advisory and project delivery to governments, international development banks, and private sector entities internationally). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; course booking is handled through the stc-bv.nl and stc-international.nl platforms. The organization is led by Director Cor van Wijngaarden (appointed June 2025), with Sven Tump as Chairman of the Board of Governors. Recent strategic activity includes the 2023 three-way merger, the 2026 expanded cooperation with River Academy for European inland shipping standards, and ongoing international development projects in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Name

STC Next

Legal name

STC Next

Website

https://stcnext.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

STC Next is a Rotterdam-based private training and education organization providing practice-oriented professional development in maritime, inland shipping, logistics, and process industry sectors, serving public and private clients across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Vocational Training and Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ), Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK), Maritime/Port Facility Security (ISPS) Training (BPAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Maritime vocational training
• Inland shipping education
• Port logistics training
• Maritime safety courses
• Shipping industry consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course and Training Delivery: STC Next generates revenue through offering a wide range of practice-oriented courses and training programs for professionals in the maritime sector, logistics, and process industry. Offerings include vocational training at all levels and numerous short, practical training modules. Courses are delivered at international training locations, in-company, and online.
2. Consultancy Services: STC Next provides consultancy services to governments and businesses nationally and internationally, contributing to human capital development and strategic advice in public and private sectors. This includes revitalizing education programs and providing strategic advisory to port and maritime stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STC Next provides practice-oriented vocational training, short professional development courses, and consultancy services for professionals in the maritime, inland shipping, logistics and process industry sectors. Course delivery takes place at its own international training locations, in-company at client premises, and online, supported by full mission simulators, a Port Training Centre and a Fire Safety Centre. Its offer is aligned with IMO STCW standards, EU Directive 2017/2397 and Dutch vocational education requirements.

Product overview

STC Next is a unified training and education platform formed in 2023 by merging STC Training & Consultancy, STC International, and STC KNRM. It operates as a multi-product training organization offering courses across maritime, inland shipping, logistics, safety, and consultancy sectors. The portfolio includes vocational training at all levels, simulator-based training, e-learning modules, and strategic consultancy services. Training is delivered at international locations, in-company, and online through hybrid formats. The organization serves both public and private sector clients globally, with local presence in South Africa, Oman, Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STC Next: The primary training provider brand offering courses in shipping, transport, inland navigation, and consultancy for professionals in and around the port.

Products and services

• Maritime Sector Training

Quantifiable outcome

• STC Next revitalized the maritime education program in Kazakhstan after they lost mandatory IMO recognition, enabling them to continue independently.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• River AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026River Academy and STC Next are expanding their cooperation to jointly develop modern, practice-oriented, pedagogically sound, and internationally applicable training programs for inland shipping. The partnership focuses on education, development of teaching materials, and both initial and continuing training. The goal is to sustainably improve qualification standards across Europe, aligning with EU Directive 2017/2397, and to create transparent, high-quality training standards through shared qualification standards, harmonized curricula, and international accreditation models.
• Erasmus+ VET_LOGICC ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2024STC Next participated in the Erasmus+ Regional Information Session 2024 for Latin America as part of the VET_LOGICC project consortium, funded by the European Commission. The consortium includes Fundación Valenciaports, Universidad del Norte de Barranquilla, CINOP, SENA, and CUNLIMÓN. STC Next led work package 2, executing curriculum review and development for SENA (Colombia) and CUNLIMÓN (Costa Rica).
• UNESCAPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC Next collaborates with UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) on international projects related to maritime connectivity, port development, and human capital development in the Asia-Pacific region.
• UNCTADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC Next works with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) on international development projects in maritime, port, transportation, and logistics sectors, providing training, education, and consultancy.
• International Development BanksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTC Next partners with international development banks on projects in developing countries, providing expertise in human capital development and strategic advisory for maritime, port, and logistics sectors.
• Governments WorldwideminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSTC Next collaborates with national and local governments worldwide on public sector consultancy projects, including revitalizing maritime education programs (e.g., Kazakhstan) and contributing to national infrastructure projects (e.g., Nieuwe Maasvlakte in the Netherlands).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• KVH Industries: US-based provider of maritime connectivity and crew welfare/training content delivered to commercial fleets. Comparable in serving the same maritime professional segment with training and certification content.
• VSTEP: Rotterdam-based maritime simulation technology provider supplying full mission simulators to ports, training centers, and navies. Comparable in simulator technology underpinning STC Next's maritime training delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Global maritime technology incumbent providing ship simulators, navigation systems, and integrated training solutions. Comparable as a broader incumbent overlapping with STC Next's simulator and maritime training capabilities.

Direct peers

• Maritime Training Services (Marlins): Provider of maritime English testing, e-learning, and crew training for the shipping industry. Comparable in delivering regulated maritime crew certification and ongoing professional education.
• Warsash Maritime Academy (Solent University): UK-based maritime training school delivering STCW-aligned vocational and certification courses for seafarers and maritime officers. Directly comparable to STC Next's Maritime Sector Training portfolio and inland/waterway certifications.
• National Maritime College of Ireland: Irish national maritime training college delivering STCW-aligned seafarer certification and simulation training. Comparable to STC Next as a regionally anchored vocational maritime school.
• FORCE Technology (Maritime): Denmark-based maritime and offshore service provider offering simulator-based training, testing, and certification. Comparable in delivering regulated maritime and offshore safety training across Europe.
• Stream Marine Training: UK-based maritime training center offering STCW, safety, and offshore courses including simulator-based training. Direct competitor in maritime safety certification and continuing professional education.
• River Academy: European inland shipping training specialist focused on EU Directive 2017/2397 curricula. Both competitor and partner to STC Next in inland waterway education across the Rhine and broader EU.
• Mintra (formerly Seagull/Ternian): Maritime and offshore competency management and e-learning provider serving shipowners and training centers. Comparable in serving the same maritime training buyer with digital courseware and certification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stcnext
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stc-next

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STC Next