Page 20: of Marine News Magazine (January 2026)

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Column

Training Tips for Ships

The Day the Manual Was Useless:

Training for When Procedures Break Down

By Heather Combs, CEO, Ripple Operations

Every mariner has trained ing is overreliance. Mariners may become conditioned to extensively on procedures. Manuals are written carefully, follow steps without fully understanding why those steps checklists are reviewed, and drills are conducted to en- exist. When a step cannot be executed due to equipment sure compliance. Global regulatory bodies have mandat- failure, time pressure, or environmental factors, the ab- ed these high standards for decades, yet marine disasters, sence of deeper understanding becomes a liability.

often stemming from unforeseen circumstances, still oc- Training should reinforce the intent behind procedures, cur. The undeniable reality remains: at sea, predictable not just the steps themselves. This requires moving beyond scenarios are often superseded by dynamic conditions. simple memorization to fostering a deeper understanding

Equipment behaves unexpectedly. Weather shifts faster of system mechanics and risk mitigation. Why is this valve than predicted. Systems interact in ways no manual fully closed ? rst? Why does this particular alarm matter? Why is anticipates. In those moments, the most dangerous as- this speci? c sequence critical? When mariners understand sumption is that the procedure alone will save the day. the purpose behind the protocol, they can adapt responsi-

This article focuses on an often overlooked training chal- bly when the script no longer applies.

lenge: preparing mariners for situations where procedures

Judgment Is a Skill That Can Be Trained fall short and judgment must take over.

Judgment is often described as something learned only through experience. While experience is invaluable,

When Reality Outpaces the Manual

Procedures are designed to standardize responses and re- critical judgment can, in fact, be deliberately trained. duce risk. They are essential. However, they are developed This training uses scenario-based exercises that intro- based on known scenarios and expected behaviors. When duce ambiguity, incomplete information, or con? icting something happens that does not ? t neatly into the of? cial signals to help mariners practice decision-making under documentation, hesitation can creep in. Crews may freeze, high uncertainty.

unsure whether deviating from established protocol is al- These scenarios should not always have a single correct lowed, even when conditions demand it. answer. Instead, they must encourage discussion, rigorous

Training must acknowledge this reality. Not every emer- risk assessment, and justi? cation of the decisions made. gency unfolds as designed, and not every failure mode is Training of? cers can guide this process by asking key de- documented. Effective training prepares mariners to rec- brie? ng questions: What options did you consider? What ognize when procedures no longer match the situation risks did you weigh? What information mattered most? and how to transition safely from scripted response to in- This approach builds con? dence in critical thinking, not formed decision making. just compliance.

The Risk of Overtraining to the Script Learning from Other High Risk Industries

One unintended consequence of procedure heavy train- The practice of decision-making under stress is well-re- 20 | MN January 2026