Maritime Human Factors & Crew Resource Management (crm) Training Course

Introduction

In the demanding and high-risk maritime environment, optimizing Maritime Human Factors & Crew Resource Management (CRM) is absolutely paramount for enhancing safety, improving operational efficiency, and preventing incidents at sea. This essential training course is meticulously designed to equip seafarers, vessel masters, navigating officers, marine engineers, shore-based superintendents, and maritime trainers with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required for enhancing human performance, decision-making, and teamwork for safety at sea. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of human capabilities and limitations, the principles of effective communication, leadership, and followership, error management strategies, and the critical role of a positive safety culture in mitigating human-related risks. Our rigorous curriculum emphasizes hands-on application, international industry standards (STCW, ISM Code), and real-world case studies pertinent to complex maritime operations, empowering you to cultivate highly effective, resilient, and safe maritime teams.

This maritime safety and teamwork course is crucial for individuals and organizations striving to move beyond technical competence towards a holistic, human-centric approach to operational excellence and risk reduction. Mastering effective bridge resource management (BRM), implementing engine room resource management (ERM) techniques, and understanding strategies for fostering clear communication and leadership are indispensable for preventing human error, improving situational awareness, enhancing emergency response, and building a proactive safety culture onboard. This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to elevate your expertise in strategic maritime safety management and behavioral risk mitigation, positioning your organization at the forefront of human performance optimization and driving significant long-term value creation through reduced incidents, improved efficiency, and enhanced crew welfare.

Target Audience

• Vessel Masters & Chief Officers
• Navigating Officers & Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch
• Chief Engineers & Second Engineers
• Marine Engineers & Electro-Technical Officers (ETOs)
• Shore-based Marine Superintendents & Operations Managers
• Designated Persons Ashore (DPAs)
• Maritime Trainers & Instructors

Course Objectives

• Understand the fundamental concepts of human factors and their impact on maritime safety.
• Learn the core principles and methodologies of Crew Resource Management (CRM).
• Master effective communication techniques for critical maritime operations.
• Develop proficiency in assertive leadership and effective followership onboard vessels.
• Explore best practices for decision-making under pressure and situational awareness.
• Understand the causes of human error and strategies for error management and prevention.
• Learn about robust teamwork dynamics and conflict resolution in a multicultural environment.
• Identify the critical aspects of fatigue management and stress coping mechanisms at sea.
• Develop skills in conducting effective debriefings and learning from incidents/near misses.
• Understand the role of organizational culture in fostering psychological safety and reporting.
• Explore strategies for enhancing workload management and resource allocation onboard.
• Drive the implementation of CRM principles to improve overall operational safety and efficiency.
• Position yourself as a leader in cultivating a strong safety culture through human factors expertise.

Duration

10 Days

Course Content

Module 1. Introduction to Human Factors in Maritime

• Defining human factors and their relevance to maritime operations and safety
• The human element's role in accidents and near misses
• Understanding human capabilities and limitations (e.g., perception, attention, memory)
• The interaction between human, technology, organization, and environment (HTO-E)
• Strategic importance of human factors in preventing incidents

Module 2. Foundations of Crew Resource Management (CRM)

• History and evolution of CRM from aviation to maritime
• Core principles of CRM: communication, leadership, teamwork, decision-making, situational awareness
• The benefits of implementing CRM for vessel safety and efficiency
• Regulatory requirements for CRM training (e.g., STCW amendments, ISM Code)
• Integrating CRM into existing safety management systems

Module 3. Effective Communication in Maritime Operations

• Verbal and non-verbal communication techniques
• Active listening and effective feedback skills
• Overcoming communication barriers (e.g., language, culture, hierarchy, fatigue)
• Standardized communication protocols: challenging, advocating, acknowledging
• Clear and concise communication during critical maneuvers and emergencies

Module 4. Leadership & Followership on the Bridge & in the Engine Room

• Understanding different leadership styles in a maritime context
• Assertive leadership: clear directives and effective delegation
• The importance of effective followership and challenging authority appropriately
• Building a positive leadership climate onboard
• Mentoring and coaching for performance improvement

Module 5. Decision-Making Under Pressure & Situational Awareness

• Models of decision-making: analytical vs. recognition-primed
• Factors influencing decision-making in high-stress environments
• Enhancing individual and team situational awareness
• Identifying and mitigating loss of situational awareness
• Threat and Error Management (TEM) for proactive risk reduction

Module 6. Human Error Management & Prevention

• Understanding different types of human error (slips, lapses, mistakes, violations)
• Identifying latent conditions and active failures
• Strategies for error prevention: checklists, standardized procedures, automation
• Learning from errors and near misses: just culture principles
• The role of reporting culture in error management

Module 7. Teamwork & Collaboration in Multicultural Environments

• Building effective maritime teams: roles, responsibilities, interdependencies
• Principles of effective teamwork and coordination
• Managing cultural diversity within multinational crews
• Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills for team cohesion
• Fostering mutual support and shared mental models

Module 8. Fatigue, Stress & Workload Management

• Understanding the causes and effects of fatigue on performance and safety
• IMO/ILO guidelines for fatigue prevention and management
• Stress recognition and coping strategies for seafarers
• Workload assessment and allocation onboard
• Impact of watchkeeping schedules on human performance

Module 9. Debriefing, Feedback & Continuous Learning

• Conducting effective post-incident and post-operation debriefings
• Providing constructive feedback for performance improvement
• Learning from experience: individual and organizational learning
• Implementing a continuous improvement cycle based on CRM principles
• The importance of a learning culture within the organization

Module 10. Organizational Culture & Safety Climate

• Defining organizational culture and its impact on safety performance
• Characteristics of a positive safety culture: trust, reporting, learning, justice
• The role of management in shaping safety culture
• Measuring and improving safety climate onboard and ashore
• Promoting psychological safety for open communication

Module 11. Resource Management & Workload Optimization

• Effective allocation of human, technical, and informational resources
• Prioritization of tasks and management of interruptions
• Utilizing automation and technology effectively to support human performance
• Planning and coordinating complex operations
• Cross-departmental collaboration (e.g., bridge and engine room)

Module 12. Applying CRM in Emergency & Critical Situations

• CRM principles during emergency response (e.g., fire, collision, grounding)
• Decision-making and communication in high-stress scenarios
• Leadership and teamwork during critical maneuvers (e.g., piloting, heavy weather)
• Managing unforeseen events and adapting plans
• Maintaining situational awareness in dynamic situations

Module 13. Future Trends in Maritime Human Factors

• The impact of automation and autonomous vessels on human roles and CRM
• Remote operations and human factors ashore in control centers
• Advanced simulation and virtual reality for CRM training
• Wearable technology and biometric monitoring for fatigue and stress
• The evolving regulatory landscape for human element training and assessment

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre.

We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.