This time of the year always gives a great opportunity to consider lessons learned and set new year’s resolutions for new beginnings. For that matter, Capt. Panagiotis Nikiteas, HSQE Manager / DPA / CSO, Maran Dry Management, makes an assessment of 2021 and shares his message for the new year across the global maritime community.
SAFETY4SEA: How would you briefly describe 2021? What is your assessment?
Capt. Panagiotis Nikiteas: Words. Leaders and Policy makers offered heart-warming words to support seafarers during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Also, announced inspiring wish lists for achieving a zero environmental footprint. However, actions agreed or implemented failed to deliver promised and long-awaited outcomes. Seafarers still face considerable difficulties joining/signing off on time and access to shore is restricted, if not forbidden. Also, no bold decisions taken during last IMO deliberations.
S4S: What were the lessons learned for the maritime industry in 2021 and what to keep for the new year moving forwards?
PN: Innovation.
After years of stagnation or slow developments, during 2021 all are looking into new designs, alternative fuels, emissions, environmental impacts, social responsibility, automation, remote access, data transfer, big data analysis, predictive analytics, and use of smart technology. This trend will keep up and accelerate even more the coming years.
Human element. Focus on human element gained unprecedent momentum during 2021. More and more realize that people do take the decisions, operate, and run the vessels, have to work together onboard and interact with so many stakeholders. Need for aligned focus and optimal collaboration will be the aim of the future years.
S4S: Focusing on your area of expertise, what do you think that will be the biggest challenge(s) for the industry in 2022?
PN: Looking at the dry bulk sector, the implementation of the new Rightship Inspection Ship Questionnaire requirements will be a headache for many and opportunity for other to differentiate. This, together with the pilot running of DryBMS, will be the practical, operational challenge for 2022. As part of overall emissions control long term projects, many will assign significant resources in smaller, steppingstone projects, through testing alternative solutions in operation.
S4S: What would be the new year’s resolutions for your organization?
PN:
Continue the legacy of the late John Angelicoussis and remain committed to the vision we all share; to be a maritime market leader for the benefit and growth of all the people who are part of this organization. What makes this company is its people.
S4S: What are you looking forward to in 2022? What would you be most glad about seeing changing in the maritime industry next year?
PN: Bold decisions from stakeholders on: Environmental protection; Sustainability; Seafarers’ rights; Vetting and control across the logistics chain and not only on the easy target, the carrier; Acceleration on the use of technology to replace useless administrative tasks such as keeping logs and completing forms and permits; Young people to be attracted back to the seafaring profession; More female seafarers progressing in higher ranks.
S4S: If you could make one wish for the maritime industry for the year to come, what would you ask for?
PN: To realize that yearning to succeed as an industry is also calling to succeed and contribute to the betterment of society. This should be the embedded purpose and at the heart of our individual careers and our business as a whole.
* * * New Year’s Resolutions for the Maritime Industry * * *
In 2022,
- We need to repeat… the solidarity and comradeship.
- We need to lose… the obstacles of ineffective communication.
- We need to gain… by ranking innovation before mere compliance.
- We can succeed by… reflecting.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.