During the 2025 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum, Giovanni Tuapin, President, Intership Crew Philippines, explored the growing need for a shift in seafarer training within the maritime industry. He argued that while technical skills remain critical, the development of strong soft skills is becoming increasingly essential for safe, efficient, and sustainable maritime operations.
Shifting realities and needs
The maritime landscape is currently undergoing significant and rapid evolution, driven by a confluence of factors reshaping the industry. This evolving environment is characterized by the rapid adoption of digital technology, an urgent push toward sustainability and decarbonization, complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, shifting workforce needs, and a more intricate regulatory framework.
These interconnected trends demand a proactive and adaptive approach from all stakeholders to ensure a safe, efficient, and sustainable future. Luckily, maritime training has evolved from traditional methods to embrace technological advancement and a deeper understanding of human factors.
The future of maritime training
The future promises even more innovative and adaptive training solutions to equip seafarers with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate a complex and fast-changing maritime landscape. While technology and AI are invaluable tools, offering flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to simulate a wide range of scenarios, they cannot replace the critical value of hands-on training.
The unique benefits of direct experience in realistic environments are essential for developing the skills, judgment, and teamwork necessary for safe and efficient maritime operations. A blended approach that combines the strengths of both technology and practical experience is the most effective way to prepare competent and confident seafarers for the modern maritime industry.
The role of soft skills in maritime careers
The industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological advancement and increasing automation. However, soft skills are more critical than ever to future-proof seafarers. By prioritizing soft skills alongside technical expertise, the industry can ensure its workforce is not only competent today but also resilient and well-prepared for future challenges. Soft skills are key for ensuring safety and operational efficiency. For instance:
- Communication prevents misunderstandings and enhances teamwork, especially within multicultural crews.
- Critical thinking enables seafarers to analyze situations and make sound decisions under pressure.
- Problem-solving allows for effective responses to unexpected challenges, which are common at sea.
- Leadership at all levels empowers every crew member, regardless of rank, to take initiative, contribute to team success, and uphold the values of the maritime profession.
From reaction to proaction: A shift in safety culture
During onboard operations, when an accident or incident occurs, the immediate priority is to address and resolve the issue effectively. This early corrective action aims to restore safety and operational stability.
Following this, both the onshore team and the crew conduct a risk assessment, asking key questions such as: What happened? When did it happen? Who was involved? Why did it happen?
Once the root cause is identified, preventive measures must be implemented to avoid recurrence. Our commitment should reach beyond fixing issues; it should include proactively fostering a safer and more efficient operational environment.
Given the inherent risks and dynamic nature of the maritime sector, reactive thinking isn’t enough. Proactive thinking empowers seafarers to be more than operators, it transforms them into active participants in ensuring their own safety, the safety of others, environmental protection, and the overall success of maritime operations.
Proactive thinking means anticipating issues and acting before incidents occur. It means moving away from the mindset of “this is how we’ve always done it.” It encourages questioning procedures and suggesting improvements. It creates a safe space for raising concerns and sharing new ideas.
Adaptive leaders shaping a future-ready workforce
The concept of adaptive leadership, embracing flexibility and change, is highly relevant and increasingly important in today’s maritime world. Adaptive leadership is not about having all the answers or being the sole decision-maker. It’s about leading effectively amid complexity, uncertainty, and evolving challenges. It is no longer a desirable trait, it’s a necessity.
Adaptive leaders lead with empathy. They don’t just sit at the front of the room, they move around to guide their teams through operational and navigational challenges.
Self-correction and reflection are essential components of adaptive leadership. A true leader recognizes when their strategies or actions aren’t effective and is open to feedback, evaluates behavior critically, and makes adjustments as needed.
Additionally, adaptive leaders create win-win outcomes by responding to dynamic situations, empowering others, and fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
By encouraging collaboration and innovation, maritime organizations can unlock the full potential of their seafarers and collective intelligence, leading to significant improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Harnessing the power of collaboration
Empowering frontline personnel to shape the future of their work contributes to a dynamic and progressive maritime sector. It brings together a diverse mix of skills and expertise: engineers approach problems technically, navigators focus on operational efficiency and safety, catering staff prioritize crew welfare, and so on.
Collaboration unites these perspectives to create holistic, creative solutions that individuals alone may overlook. Teamwork enables knowledge-sharing, strengthens relationships, builds trust, and ultimately improves team performance. Distributed leadership transforms seafarers from mere followers into active contributors and leaders, fostering a proactive culture where safety, efficiency, and ongoing improvement are paramount.
Embedding leadership at every level
To reinforce this culture of leadership at every level, we must examine our team structure, both onboard and onshore. Do team members share a belief in proactive safety and operational excellence? Have we provided them with the necessary training in coaching, facilitation, and conflict management? Do they have the right tools, not just equipment, but also the processes and policies required to drive change? Have we set clear targets and key performance indicators? When deficiencies arise, how is accountability defined? Is the master solely accountable? Or do all crew members share responsibility? Does accountability extend to both onboard and onshore teams?
Creating a culture of proactive seafarers
By consistently empowering our teams, equipping them with the right tools, and celebrating achievements, we can cultivate a culture of proactive seafarers who lead from every position.
How do we implement this culture shift? Through training programs that focus on soft skills, strong mentorship, open communication, and proactive behavior.
To build a future-ready maritime workforce, we need more coaches, both onboard and ashore. A coach who cares about the team. A coach who aligns team members with their strengths. A coach who fosters integrity in line with the organization’s values. A coach who challenges the team to reach their potential. And, finally, a coach who helps the team achieve their goals.
Above article has been edited from Giovanni Tuapin’s presentation during the 2025 SAFETY4SEA Manila Forum.
Explore more by watching his video presentation here below
The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
