Focus on ensuring equal distribution of responsibilities throughout the team, whether they involve high-level tasks or routine duties.
In the world of maritime operations, the allocation of roles on board a vessel plays a crucial part in shaping the development and progression of crew members. A balanced and diverse role allocation can prevent a captain's progression from hitting a ceiling, and foster a strong, adaptable team.
On vessels, the galley is often a good starting point for less experienced crew members. With tasks always needing attention, it provides an opportunity to build practical skills and gain valuable experience. Rotating galley jobs, such as provisioning runs, cooking, and cleaning, can help these crew members build confidence and become more versatile.
However, if crew members are consistently relegated to limited or repetitive roles, their skill growth can become uneven, potentially hampering their overall development and career advancement. To ensure equal skill growth among all crew members, it is advisable to rotate roles and responsibilities regularly, offer continuous targeted training, and create familiar layouts and procedures across vessels to facilitate learning and adaptability.
On tugboats or other vessels requiring high skills in maneuvering or operational leadership, continuous crew training and exposure to various techniques are emphasized to maintain skill versatility and progression. Fostering an environment that supports role diversity and equal training opportunities helps all crew members build a broad set of competencies, which is critical given the highly skilled nature of maritime operations and the industry’s dependence on qualified seafarers.
Creating consistent vessel layouts and operational protocols helps crew quickly adapt when moving between roles or vessels, supporting seamless skill acquisition and confidence building. Encouraging cross-training and recognizing individual milestones also promote motivation and career progression among crew members, contributing positively to overall development and organizational capability.
However, it's important to note that the growth of the more experienced sailor can lead to a decrease in confidence among the crew, particularly if the less experienced members are consistently relegated to 'inside' jobs. Initially, everyone may be happy with this seemingly efficient role-allocation, but in the long term, it may not serve the crew well. The more experienced sailor may gain a deeper comfort zone, while the less experienced may feel stagnant.
A case in point is an 18-year-old crew member, fresh out of school, who found himself on a 78ft maxi somewhere between Sicily and Gibraltar. Despite being assigned 'inside' jobs, his time in the galley served him well, teaching him a vital rule: never serve meatballs in a blow. When everyone on board can handle both deck and galley duties, confidence builds in both directions, and the crew can grow and learn together, strengthening relationships on board.
In summary, role allocation directly shapes skill development and career progression by either limiting or enabling diverse experiences. Best practice advice includes role rotation, continuous training, familiar operational environments, and recognition of achievements to ensure balanced skill growth on board vessels, fostering a strong, adaptable team.
[1] Maritime Executive, "Continuous Training Key to Seafarer Development," 2020. [2] International Maritime Organization, "Maritime Labour Convention, 2006," 2006. [3] Seafarers UK, "The Importance of Training in the Maritime Sector," 2019. [4] International Chamber of Shipping, "Crew Training and Development," 2021.
- To ensure continuous development and versatility among crew members, it is essential to rotate roles and responsibilities, just as the 18-year-old sailor who learned from both deck and galley duties.
- Engaging in sports, such as team sports, can mimic the benefits of a diverse role allocation, fostering camaraderie, promoting skill development, and encouraging adaptability among team members.
