Improving Human Relations Onboard

Working onboard is a job that requires extreme effort.

For any operations to be performed safely and smoothly, a good relationship is required between the entire crew.  

The number of persons on board is limited. Additionally, the crew members are all living and cohabitating in a minimal space, so disputes and dissatisfaction between fellow seafarers are likely to occur. During such situations, it is essential to have a good leader. This leader will ensure that the relationships of members onboard are healthy and help in solving any discontent between parties.  

Every person on board needs to socialise and try to get to know all their colleagues. This will ensure that the values and skills of others are understood and respected to form a stronger bond. The Master, First Officer and Chief Engineer should help new members get involved and ensure that a happy relationship is kept onboard when the crew members work together and in their free time. Various activities onboard may enhance human relations. These include but are not limited to:

1. Toolbox Meetings

Toolbox meetings which are usually carried out onboard every morning to assign the daily jobs to each crew member are a great excuse to get all the crew members together. The First Officer, Bosun or Chief Engineer as a leader should encourage crew members to discuss their views and voice their opinions regarding how a job can be carried out most efficiently and safely.

Note: When crew members are individually asked and encouraged to give their opinions, a sense of responsibility, importance and appreciation is installed, leading to a happier, more fulfilled crew and better relationships onboard.

2. Coffee Time

Coffee Time is a time that is very looked forward to by seafarers on board. This is when the crew can discuss how the daily jobs are proceeding and take a little break from work. During this time, the crew tends to gather together in the crew mess.

3. Onboard Training

Onboard training is another important task which gets all the crew members together. This training should be arranged in a way to ensures that most of the crew members are available to attend. During such activity, the crew members can again voice their opinions about safety.

4. Free Time

Due to the harsh working hours onboard, most crew members, including officers, tend to retire straight to their cabins upon working day completion. Therefore, senior officers should organise activities such as watching movies together or karaoke nights to help the crew meet after working hours and socialise outside the working environment.

5. Events

When possible, the organisation of recreational events, which include the crew members working in a team, should be considered. Activities such as sports or team games can enhance the human relationships between crew members and additionally aid in creating a better team spirit. Themed parties or teamwork activities during free time or days off or other games should be planned and organised. 

6. Parties 

A party is an excellent method to help seafarers break the monotony of life at sea and socialise a bit. These events help create a bond between seafarers onboard and additionally relieve some stress. When planning such activities, the Master and senior officers should ensure that this is done in a way that includes everyone on board. 

Unfortunately, there will always be crew members who are still on duty. It is, therefore, the master or senior officers to ensure that any person who is working during that time is either relieved on time so they can partake or their assigned duty is adjusted/swapped so they can attend the next party or activity.