As the shipping organizations are rapidly changing, struggling to attract new talents and have a modern working environment, there is an urgent need for soft skills development. Shipping needs to adopt new methods and techniques on how to improve those abilities, speakers of panel 3 at the last SAFETY4SEA Virtual Forum highlighted.
In particular, Mr. Adam Lewis, Head of Training & Operations at IMEC, noted that today we see both a major disruption and opportunity. The major disruption are the young people who come with different mindset and expectations about sustainability and also new educational background. The major opportunity comes with technology since there is a lot of research forward.
Continuing Dr. William Moore, American Club, Global Loss Prevention Director, SVP, said that today a career at sea is no longer considered a lifelong occupation creating a gap in knowledge and experience but an interesting and challenging dichotomy. ‘’Our industry will require striking a balance between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills to meet our future challenges’’, Dr Moore said.
Graph 1, included in Dr. Moore’s presentation, shows which future skills are required for the next generation of shipping
As mentioned, the new training methods would be the following
- face-to-face classroom and webinar training
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
- Full mission simulation in team environment
- e-Learning provides tool to gain and retain underlying knowledge
The objective for seafarers is to retain knowledge and skills that they have already acquired. ‘’To better train the crew, we need to create a process of training and assessment at regular intervals for retention and skills, retention of knowledge, skills and desired behaviors.’’ Dr. Moore added.
In that regard, to train the trainers, the following are important to keep in mind
- Recruit and train professional from other ‘high risk’ industries
- Ex-Masters and Chief Engineers don’t necessarily make best trainers due to limited experience in both modern hard and soft skill sets.
- Advanced technology has made access to new information easier.
In his turn, Capt. Jeff Parfitt, Director, CHIRP Maritime, referred to key findings from analyzing causal factors of near misses in the maritime industry.
‘’In CHIRP, we break them down into 12 essential components, using the UK MCA’s deadly dozen – the 12 significant people factors in maritime safety. What we have found is that one of the principal causes of near misses and incidents is communication, the understanding and awareness of a situation, the actions and behaviors of those involved in those near misses and incidents.” Capt. Parfitt said.
Communication is an essential element of soft skills; it is the ability to emphathize, the openness to listen and conflict resolution, highlighted Capt. David Patraiko, The Nautical Institute, Director of Projects. What is more, especially these days, we have all being reminded of the importance of communication and building resilience in our seafarers and their families and creating an onboard environment that supports all of our seafarers all the way through their career, RAdm. Bill Truelove, Managing Director, CSMART Academy added.
Continuing, Dr. Maria Progoulaki, Green Jakobsen A/S, Regional Representative, argued that with the progress of technology we all need upgrade. ‘’As we acquire new skills, we need to remind ourselves of some old ones.’’ she commented.
Presenting feedback from Green Jakobsen’s Delta tool from answers of over 6,000 seafarers of many different nationalities, she said that senior officers are always the most positive in comparison to juniors and ratings.
Through their Delta tool, they have noticed that seafarers change their performance and take better decisions when they are influenced by external cues. As a cue is considered any actions used as a signal to do things differently; anything that stimulates dialogue and reflection. On onboard, there are a number of formal and informal cues such as:
- toolbox talks
- debriefs
- exploring questioning and open dialogue
- involvement and dialogue of all crew members
- feedback – peer to peer – boss to subordinate – subordinate to bossintervention and explanation
- formal evaluation – 360 degrees
‘’Senior officers are leaders; leaders are humans and as humans they have their own perception, opinions and attitudes. To make them more critical about performance, we need to challenge them, to make them discuss their perception, opinions and their experience.’’ Dr. Progoulaki concluded, highlighting that the top three skills needed in the future for the maritime industry would be: self- reflection, insight & understanding of presence and dialogue and communication.
Lessons learned from the pandemic
It is worth mentioning that COVID period has also revealed further the mental health challenges across the maritime sector, Radm. Truelove mentioned to pinpoint that more than ever, it is imperative to talk about soft skills within the industry.
‘’Definitely mental health is a serious issue, we have seen increasing suicide numbers and depression- unfortunately the wider maritime industry has not recognized the issues seafarers are going through completely; this is very disappointing.’’ said Capt. Parfitt.
With regards to the effects of the pandemic on training, Mr Adam Lewis said that COVID-19 acted as a catalyst. The new environment has benefits but also few drawbacks, commented Dr Moore.
Capt Patraiko mentioned the need to focus on human element, because training is transferring skills through human activities. ‘’We need to change; there are opportunities with technology, so learn how to use new systems. Also we have to get either better at doing training remotely but not to forget that human endeavor of assessment; in simulation the real learning comes in the debrief, that is a mentoring skill.’’ he said.
Dr Progoulaki agreed that with this crisis situation individuals recognized the value of personal communication, even the small talks. The mode changed to a more digital environment, but we have to consider many issues associated.
‘’This is not the first storm that the cruise or the shipping industry has weathered, however the storm will pass and will get back to normal business.’’ Radm Truelove concluded.
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