2024 SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum: Making the maritime industry safe and attractive

The event was organized by SAFETY4SEA having PT Pertamina Marine Solutions (PMSOL) as headline sponsor and The American Club, MacGregor, and SQEMARINE as lead sponsors.

Other sponsors of the event were: Arcadia Shipmanagement Co. LTD, Blue Planet Shipping Ltd, Britannia P&I Club, Capital-Executive Ship Management Corp., Capital Gas Ship Management Corp., Capital Shipmanagement, Columbia Ship Management, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), Green Jakobsen A/S, Latsco Marine Management Inc., NorthStandard, OneCare Group, RISK4SEA, SEAFiT, and West of England P&I Club.

Supporters of the event included the following organizations: INTERCARGO, Institutre of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Singapore Branch, International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA), Singapore Maritime officers’ Union (SMOU), and The Nautical Institute. Finally, Marino PH and Worldoils acted as the event’s media sponsors.

Apo Belokas, Managing Editor of SAFETY4SEA, opened the event by greeting the attendees and expressing gratitude to the sponsors and supporters. He pointed out the significant hurdles the maritime industry must overcome, particularly regarding the reluctance to embrace change. He called on industry stakeholders to collaborate in tackling these issues, supporting both seafarers and shore staff through innovative projects and tools. Furthermore, he encouraged stakeholders to back the SAFETY4SEA Petition for improved connectivity, underlining how essential internet access is for enhancing crew welfare.

Dr. Dian Prama Irfani, Director, Pertamina Marine Solutions, delivered an interesting keynote speech, addressing the shift in global shipping towards greener energy and digitalization amidst geopolitical tensions and regulatory changes. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of continuous training for maritime professionals to stay relevant and adapt to international regulations, emphasizing sticking to safety procedures to minimize risks to crew and cargo. Finally, Dr. Irfani also highlighted that strong leadership and collaboration are essential to tackle challenges in the maritime industry and issued a call for investments in new technologies to navigate these evolving landscapes successfully.

Session#1 Loss prevention challenges

James Ng, Loss Prevention Officer, Britannia P&I Club, presented essential strategies for loss prevention and risk management in the maritime industry. He identified key security challenges faced by ships, including theft and piracy, and highlighted effective security measures such as technology integration and crew training. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of developing a tailored risk management framework to enhance security and ensure compliance in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

During the panel discussion, Capt. Hari Subramaniam, Chair, The Nautical Institute Singapore Branch, offered his valuable insight into maritime safety, highlighting the importance of collaboration and transparency between stakeholders if they wish to make a difference. Additionally, Capt. Edwin Rodriguez, QSHE Manager/DPA, Columbia Shipmanagement, emphasized that the safety of seafarers needs to be prioritized, especially as the industry is facing turbulent times.

Dimitris Psarros, Business Development Manager at RISK4SEA, delivered a focus presentation, highlighting the role of automated systems in improving port state control (PSC) compliance. In particular, he discussed how port-specific PSC focus checklists, customized and prioritized for each vessel, ensure that critical compliance areas are properly addressed. Furthermore, Dimitris Psarros explained that an Automated Port Call Risk Assessment (POCRA) system helps predict when a ship is likely to undergo inspection, making the preparation process more efficient.

Session #2 Navigational safety

Andrew Glen, Loss Prevention Director – Asia Pacific, NorthStandard, gave a presentation which explored the critical topics of e-navigation, cybersecurity, big data, and smart applications. According to Andrew Glen, the advancement of maritime automation and digitalization will bring about the need for relevant training. Additionally, he highlighted the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in big data and smart applications to assist watchkeepers in improving operational efficiency and safety.

Capt.  Akshat Arora, Senior Risk Assessor, UK P&I Club, addressed the critical issue of navigational errors, emphasizing that such mistakes can lead to disastrous consequences and significant liabilities. Capt. Arora underscored that bridging navigational excellence with behavioral competency is essential for improving safety standards in the industry and fostering a culture of proactive risk management. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and situational awareness, in enhancing overall competency.

Session #3: Human factors

Dean Crossley, Loss Prevention Manager, West of England, discussed the normalization of deviance in workplace practices, highlighting a specific example where a ship’s crew used the coaming as a makeshift walkway to access the hatch cover more easily. Based on this incident, he emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to prevent such behaviors. This includes fostering a strong safety culture that promptly identifies and corrects deviations from established protocols and encouraging open communication so crew members can report unsafe behaviors without fear of repercussions.

Allan Raymund Olano, General Manager and Consultant, Green-Jakobsen A/S, underlined that performance is not merely the end result of work but is fundamentally about the processes leading to those results. He explained that performance encompasses physical abilities, cognitive skills, emotions, and interpersonal interactions. According to Allan Raymund Olano’s presentation, to enhance performance, it’s essential to understand these factors and create conditions conducive to improvement.

Capt. Sundeep Sequeira, Area Sales Manager – Singapore, One Learn Global, explored trends regarding seafarer mental health. According to the presentation, even though seafarers’ mental health is crucial to their safety and well-being, seafarers experience depression at a rate of 14.14%, significantly higher than the 3.8% observed in the general population. Thus, Capt. Sundeep Sequeira highlighted the pressing need for companies to adopt solutions that address this worrying trend and provide support for their crew.

Capt. Kunal Nakra, General Manager, Safety Governance and Performance, Swire Shipping, gave a presentation which encouraged the audience to adopt a different perspective, urging them to move away from viewing human performance solely through the lens of “people are the problem,” and instead recognize the complexities involved when things go wrong. Capt. Nakra explained that seafarers frequently encounter obstacles that require them to adapt and be flexible while still achieving their goals as expected, which puts significant pressure on them.

Capt. Jagadeesan Natarajan, General Manager, Orient Marine Co., Ltd. (Singapore Branch), expressed a collection of insightful thoughts during the panel discussion. He advocated for enhanced safety standards, saying that the crew needs to be equipped with proper training. According to Capt. Natarajan, an informed crew is not only less prone to make mistakes, but also more likely to operate the vessel efficiently.

Session #4: Enhancing safety culture onboard

Capt. Vishal Gupta, Senior Manager (Marine/QA Team), MOL Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., addressed the correlation between safety and leadership as essential pillars of success in any industry, including maritime. He acknowledged the significant strides the maritime sector has made over the past few decades in achieving high operational safety standards for ships and crews. However, he emphasized the importance of continually assessing and re-evaluating these standards to foster ongoing improvement.

During the fourth panel discussion, Capt.  Raghav Gulati, Safety and Technical Operations Manager, Anglo American, and Capt. Chuxing Peng, Deputy General Manager, Quality, Safety, Security and Environment, Pacific International Lines Pte ltd., shared their thoughts with the audience regarding the development of a safety culture. Capt.  Raghav Gulati underscored the importance of leadership in establishing such a culture, with Capt. Chuxing Peng adding that companies should prioritize developing safe environments onboard if they strive to improve operations.

Session #5: Training & development

Capt. Sofyani Faisol, Manager Crewing Tanker, Pertamina Marine Solutions, stressed the importance of providing better wages and safe working conditions onboard, as well as addressing seafarers’ mental health and well-being. He also noted that consistent training is vital for retaining seafarers and ensuring they remain updated with the latest technology in the industry. According to Capt. Faisol, all this will be greatly facilitated if shipowners, crew manning agencies, and training centers collaborate under this goal.

Capt. Chatur Wahyu, Director, Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic, highlighted Singapore Maritime Academy ‘s commitment to training international seafarers and maritime personnel in the safe handling of alternative marine fuels. The training includes practical safety exercises and incorporates advanced technologies like AI and AR/VR for immersive learning experiences. According to Capt. Wahyu, since launching its first course on methanol fuel in March 2024, SMA has trained over 200 individuals.

The fifth panel discussion saw Siti Noraini Zaini, Regional Manager (Asia), IBIA, and Capt. Saunak Rai, General Manager, FueLNG / Vice Chairman, ICS Singapore Branch, tackle the subject of the complexities in maritime training. Siti Noraini Zaini pointed out that training on how to handle alternative fuels is crucial, as most staff are not equipped with such knowledge, but energy transition is a reality. Capt. Saunak Rai echoed the sentiment, stating that simply investing in green technology is insufficient, as the personnel operating this technology must also be adequately prepared.

Session #6: Crew management & resilience

Atty. Iris Baguilat, President of Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc., delivered a presentation underscoring the crucial role of loss prevention and compensable claims in the maritime industry. She focused specifically on how these issues relate to the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, a key legal framework for the protection of seafarers’ rights. In addition, Baguilat highlighted the critical importance of ensuring proper medical care for seafarers, emphasizing that it is not enough to simply discuss these issues; stakeholders must actively stand by their crew and offer support when health concerns arise.

Dr. Reno B. Bolivar, Maritime Expert and Digital Content Creator, Marino PH, focused on trends and strategies for crewing and manning agencies to attract and retain seafarers. He emphasized the use of digital platforms and personalized career development, along with promoting work-life integration. He also presented retention factors such as support systems, mental health programs, contract renewals, competitive salaries, and opportunities for career progression. Finally, Dr. Bolivar stressed the importance of welfare initiatives, and compliance with labor standards in retaining crew members.

In the final panel discussion, Akhil Dhawan, Director of Procurement and Marine Services at Wallem, emphasized the vital role management plays in building resilience within the crew. He stressed that it is essential for management not only to ensure that seafarers possess the necessary skills to perform their duties but also to create a supportive environment where they feel valued and have the opportunity to thrive.

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