Shipping – and, in fact, all off-shore work – will require constant training and re-certification to ensure that all individuals, from the very highest echelons to the very lowest, are able to carry out their work in a safe and effective manner.
Unfortunately, however, many companies are finding that putting theory into practice at sea is not always that easy, and in turn both safety standards and efficiency have been falling as a result.
The situation has become so extreme that there have been discussions in the EU about banning ships who have employed crew that have trained in certain locations, fearing the outcome of letting such personnel dock their vessels in the ports. It will not matter whether these ships originated in the EU or not, only where personnel have been trained.
This may seem extreme, but it only serves to highlight how important safety training is for those businesses specialising in maritime work. As such, corners should never be cut when sourcing training, and not only will regular refresher courses need to be offered to everyone from the captain to the engineers, but the training that is received will also need to be conducted by a reputable and very experienced training organisation.
Whilst some suggest that training should be carried out on board ship, it is likely that the need for such measures can be removed simply by choosing companies with a solid track record to offer maritime training to your crew. However, even then, it will be important to establish how often practices are contrary to guidelines and training and ensure that the shipping companies themselves adjust their focus accordingly.