During the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Capt. Vishal Gupta, Senior Manager (Marine/QA Team), MOL Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, 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.
The maritime industry has come a long way in improving operational safety for ships and crews. Yet, despite these advances, incidents and conversations around the human element persist. As someone who has worked closely with these dynamics, I firmly believe that achieving enduring safety and operational success requires a deep commitment to two foundational principles: safety and leadership.
Rethinking safety
Safety is often seen as a set of rules and checklists—“Do this safely,” “Wear safety gear,” “Follow procedures.” But is this enough? In my opinion, safety is more than compliance; it is a tool in everyone’s hands to identify, assess, and minimize risks to acceptable levels.
However, one challenge remains: the perception of risk and safety varies among individuals. This inconsistency can lead to gaps, even with the best systems in place. True safety is a culture—a mindset where individuals think critically about risks, proactively mitigate them, and feel responsible for their actions and decisions.
Leadership: A social endeavor
Leadership, often perceived as the role of an individual team leader, is, in reality, a collective process. It’s not about one person guiding the group but about creating an environment where people work together to achieve results they could not reach alone.
Effective leadership produces three critical outcomes:
· Direction – Clarity of vision and a defined path forward.
· Alignment – A unified effort where everyone, from senior management to the crew, moves in the same direction.
· Commitment – Dedication from all stakeholders to ensure success.
In the shipping industry, direction is largely shaped by governing bodies like the IMO and ILO. Alignment comes from enforcers such as Port State Control, vetting inspectors, and company auditors. Commitment, however, is where the real challenge lies—it requires buy-in from everyone, from vessels and ports to inspectors and authorities.
The overlooked element: Psychological Safety
One aspect of leadership that cannot be overlooked is psychological safety. Without it, teams may hesitate to raise concerns or propose new ideas, fearing criticism or reprisal. But when people feel safe to speak up, creativity and collaboration flourish, driving better outcomes.
A balancing act
Even as safety systems grow more sophisticated, the human element remains a significant factor in maritime incidents. Having volumes of procedures and manuals onboard will not solve this problem. In my view, the solution lies in striking a balance between robust systems and a human-centric approach.
The rules, regulations, procedures, and training are designed to enhance the safety of vessels, cargo, crew, and the environment. However, if they have become excessive and are causing undue stress on the crew or creating unnecessary burdens, it may be time to review and streamline them.
We need to foster a culture where safety is seen not as a mandate but as a shared responsibility, and leadership is embraced as a collective effort rather than the task of a few. With these principles at the forefront, the maritime industry can continue its journey toward excellence, navigating challenges with confidence and resilience.
Above article has been edited from Capt. Vishal Gupta’s presentation during the 2024 SAFETY4SEA Singapore 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.
