Page 8: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2024)

Training Tips for Ships © Justlight/AdobeStock

Tip #62

Training:

The Cornerstone of Overall Crew Success

By Dean Shoultz, Chief Innovation Of? cer, Ripple Operations s the maritime industry navigates through rapid namics—carry the same strategic weight as decisions made technological advancements and evolving global in the corporate back-of? ce, directly in? uencing the com- standards, the traditional approach to mariner pany’s overall success. Comprehensive training that prepares

Atraining is no longer suf? cient. In this ever-chang- captains and of? cers for these high-stakes roles is crucial for ing environment, companies must shift from simply providing fostering a culture of Crew Success, ensuring that every mari- training to fostering a culture of ‘Crew Success’—a holistic ner, from deckhands to senior of? cers, is empowered through approach that ensures mariners thrive both on board and with- training to excel in their role.

in the company as a whole.

Beyond Technical Skills:

Lifeblood of Operations: Mariners’ Central Role Expanding Training to Develop Holistic Competencies

Mariners are not just employees; they are the lifeblood of While technical skills are the backbone of any training any marine operation. Their actions, guided by effective train- program, there are other competencies that are often over- ing, directly in? uence the safety, ef? ciency, and reputation of looked but are just as critical to Crew Success. Training in a vessel. Whether it’s the tone a mariner uses with an unruly areas like critical thinking, business etiquette, and emotional passenger or the critical decision a captain makes when navi- intelligence can empower mariners to make better decisions, gating treacherous waters, these frontline decisions, backed communicate effectively, and represent their company’s brand by solid training, have profound impacts on both risk manage- with professionalism. Expanding training programs to include ment and revenue generation. Recognizing mariners as central these holistic competencies enables mariners to excel in all to a company’s success starts with robust training programs aspects of their roles, further driving the success of the crew designed to equip them with the skills they need to succeed. and the organization.

A New Management Paradigm: On the Horizon: Preparing for STCW Amendments

Empowering Leaders Through Training The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently

In some companies, mariners are still viewed as mere em- conducting a comprehensive review of the Standards of Train- ployees. However, the reality is that captains and of? cers ing, Certi? cation, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). should be seen as part of the senior management team, not This review, led by the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Ele- just onboard but within the entire company. Their decisions— ment, Training, and Watchkeeping (HTW), is expected to lead whether navigating complex waters or managing crew dy- to signi? cant amendments that not only address traditional 8 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • September 2024

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