Human performance at sea: Stress management for efficient shipping - SOS project

Abstract

Maritime stakeholders and rulers have expressed many concerns in the recent years on two major topics: the crew shortage and the navigation safety. Ship-owners and trade unions are trying to face the desertion of young qualified crews, analyzing causes and sources of such a phenomenon, in order to keep skilled people working on board and to protect their health. On the other hand, the navigation safety became another key-issue as the globalized markets have requested the enterprises to speed up their transport capability. This has entailed a demand for more performing shipping services, putting crews often under pressure, and exposing ships to the danger of accidents. Causes of stress can be sources of dangerous distractions and their presence can induce young people to avoid choosing to work at sea, worsening the crew shortage, a well-known phenomenon in Europe. Sectorial researches have shown there are many sources of stress. And that it's possible, with a targeted and tailor-made education and training, to make crew staff aware of them, able to recognize their and the others' stress statuses at the very beginning, and to psychologically and behaviourally master tools to manage them, protecting their health and improving effectiveness. © 2015 Organising Committee NAV 2015.