Developing a Climate of Trust: the Human Face of Shipping
In principle, all involved stakeholders should focus on continuously enhancing the quality of work and of onboard living conditions for crews; this way, the maritime sector can benefit in terms of effectiveness, safety and environment friendliness.
When I was thinking of what I could write in this article regarding potential interventions of ship-owners into everyday onboard crew problems, an illuminating discussion that I had with a Chief Engineer of a Greek shipping company came to mind. I asked him what simple actions shipowners can do towards continuously enhancing the quality of work and of onboard living conditions for crews. His answer can be concisely summarized as follows: building a climate of trust between the shipowning company and seafarers.
In principle, all involved stakeholders should focus on continuously enhancing the quality of work and of onboard living conditions for crews; this way, the maritime sector can benefit in terms of effectiveness, safety and environment friendliness.
It is a well-known fact that psychology plays an important role in human performance and behaviour; in the marine industry wherein difficult environmental conditions, limited space and long isolation of crews can be met, the problems related to the human element can worsen notably. Hence, it is of outmost significance for a shipowner or shipmanager to focus on developing a climate of trust between him and the seafarers that man his vessels, to try to outline and promote the human face of shipping.
This effort should not be considered as a trivial one. Policies and practices drafted by the company management for the improvement of seafarers’ life and spirit need persistence and patience to begin to pay off. In this context, crew members would like to see shipowners (or someone high from the chain of command) to regularly come onboard and check that all is well aboard the ship. Seafarers do not want to work for impersonal companies, and they certainly do not enjoy listening to answers such as “I am just an employee, IwillseewhatIcando”.
On the contrary, they would like to feel that they are dealing with a friend, that they are close to ‘the boss’ with whom they could speak and explain their problems, or demonstrate that they are vivid and productive parts of a dynamic team. Moreover, it is important for the people at sea to know that their families are well considered by the shipping companies; to that effect even a phone call from the company to the family can play an important role regarding the behaviour and awareness of the seafarer.
The Chief Engineer told me: “when crewmembers feel secure and well-taken care of they will give their 110% for the company”. I believe him!