Factors Affecting Human Relations Onboard

Various factors may affect human relations onboard, the main ones include the:

• Working Environment.
• Individuals.
• Leadership.

Work Environment

The work environment onboard is one of the main factors affecting human relations. This is due to the simple fact that a good work environment results in happy crew members onboard. Crew members which are satisfied tend to have better attitudes which in return provide a less stressful environment. The productivity of crew members will also increase together with the respect and support for fellow seafarers. 

On the other hand, when the work environment is bad, seafarers tend to feel stressed, which might lead to sadness resulting in confrontations, fights, and unease among the crew. 

Individuals

Every individual is susceptible to emotions and attitudes. When an individual onboard has problems at home or any other problems onboard, this might affect the attitude towards others. Unfortunately, sometimes factors such as race, culture, and beliefs might cause trouble due to close-minded individuals. It is therefore paramount for every seafarer to understand that every race, culture, and belief onboard should be respected, and all persons should be treated with dignity. 

Leader

The leader, meaning the Master or any other person onboard who is in charge of a group of people, also has a great effect on human relations onboard. Good leadership is of utmost importance to ensure that the crew members feel respected and appreciated by their superiors. Additionally, any leader should keep in mind that you are the main example that the crew will look at when it comes to how to treat everyone around them. A leader which does not lead in a way that promotes respect, appreciation, and support, will install this type of attitude among the crew members themselves, which in turn will result in a disaster in human relations onboard.