Improving Maritime Safety and Efficiency through Process Improvement

Inefficient processes and lack of standardization increase the administrative tasks required of mariners whose responsibility is primarily the safety of the crew, cargo, and vessel. This paper presents an analysis of the impact that conformance to maritime and organizational regulations and polices has had on the maritime industry. The organization is responsible for implementing rules and procedures that keep its assets safe and legal. The processes utilized to maintain regulatory compliance are critiqued to illustrate a relationship between efficiency and performance, and recommendations are provided to increase the added value of organizational decision making. Employee involvement and interpersonal communication are components of organizational culture. Common factors that contribute to low involvement and poor communication are provided, as well as strategies for increasing involvement and improving communication. Select maritime regulations provide the background and rationale for the increase in documentation and inspections. Case studies and surveys within the maritime industry are analyzed to defend the position that failure to streamline processes can result in fatigue and distraction, therefore increasing the likelihood of an incident. Recommendations are included to build an organizational culture that promotes employee involvement and enhances ship to shore communication through standardization and technology implementation. The expected outcomes are a more efficient use of resources leading to a safer and more productive work environment.