Page 13 - 2021 - Q4 - Minerva in Focus

Human resources and new

competencies are needed to

enable digitalization without losing

required engineering competencies

and seamanship

Shipping is undergoing tremendous engine room, computer-based diagnostic A modern engine room is packed with elec-
changes to tackle the safety and envi- and maintenance systems assist engineers tronics. Engine monitoring systems offer
ronment-related challenges of our in- in operating advanced and smart engines. the possibility to know about the engine’s
dustry. The two fundamental pillars to Smart port technologies contribute to health and plan its maintenance accord-
do this are human resources and smart eliminating waiting and ship downtime and ingly. In parallel, all this data is increasingly
technology, i.e., digitalization. the efficient structuring of logistic chains. transferred to shore, positively affecting
In combination, all this evolution will inev- the ship and entire fleet’s safety, environ-
itably lead to autonomous ships. mental performance, and efficiency.
Nowadays, smart ships and advanced ΙΤ It goes without saying that this new work Given all of the above and the typical sea-
and communications are a reality, so the environment needs new workers with farer’s profile, it is rather difficult to un-
rather conservative shipping industry additional skills. Additional, not new derstand how experience can be effective-
must adapt to a digital way of thinking. skills, because the fact that a ship’s op- ly combined with theoretical electronics
There is a demand for a new generation of erations mainly mean hard practical work knowledge. Until now, maritime education
highly skilled mariners who possess key combined with training, experience, and has focused primarily on practical training
digital and soft management skills but dedication should not be underestimated. and hands-on experience on board. That
retain the traditional attitudes that made Regarding digitalization, it is evident that needs to change towards a more academic
Greek shipping so strong: all those special relevant skills such as those supporting education. With the constant flow of new
characteristics included in the concept of business development and technology utili- technologies introduced in the shipping
“seamanship.” zation will be an essential part of seafarers’ industry, which are not exclusively re-
Today, the crew requires deep theoretical education. Connectivity, the IoT, common lated to electronics and digitalization,
knowledge and familiarity with digital freight broker platforms, and e-commerce the profile of the future seafarer should
equipment. In contrast, traditional seafar- will simplify the supply chain and reduce change radically. The new captain, chief
er skills are passed down from generation paperwork. Autonomous and advanced officer, chief engineer, and even the bosun
to generation and are learned from their onboard support systems are constantly and ranks should understand safety and
first years on board. Does the one skill set evolving, although crewless ships are not environmental regulations and handle
preclude the acquisition of the other, or expected to become a large-scale reality technically advanced equipment without
can they be combined? The future seafar- in the coming decades. However, complex losing the traditional virtues that are the
er must definitely have both. autonomous systems are currently a chal- cornerstone of the ship’s operation.
After the initial reluctance of the first few lenge for crews. Special skills are required To this end, maritime education and train-
years, digital technologies are finding their to interact with such computer IT and ing should be enriched, retaining, however,
way onto ships, massively transforming communication systems. Crews need basic the necessary practical training onboard.
the ship’s operations. The bridge, engine electronics knowledge and an in-depth Meanwhile, today’s ship crews will need
room, and deck are fully equipped with understanding of the systems on board to ongoing training to provide them with the
electronics, which, together with the enor- support their operation and take advantage skills required to interact with computer
mous advances made in IT and commu- of their abilities safely and efficiently. systems and understand and analyze data
nication technologies, shape an entirely Moving on to the bridge, we find control received from communication and IT sys-
new work environment for both the crews centers that monitor vessel positions, tems. Since critical situations on modern
and the shore staff of a shipping company. maneuvers, speed, fuel consumption, ships are largely dealt with by electronic
Almost all of a seaman’s routine tasks at and handling/load conditions. Captains, aids, it is obvious that officers and crews
sea and in port are being undertaken by chief officers, and shore-side fleet oper- should have the respective skills.
computer-based applications. Even in the ators have to analyze this data to extract Our seafarers’ traditional values like ded-
useful information like voyage planning, ication, love for the sea, and seamanship,
timely arrival, weather routing, and fuel have made the Greek-owned merchant
by VENLYS Maritime consumption. fleet dominant globally.
Specialization Services

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