How Are Technological Tools Attempting to Optimize Crew Productivity

There is no doubt that the maritime industry is starting to occupy a considerable portion of the global market. Along with it, ship management companies and software are increasing as the need for ship management continues to rise. One of the most striking and challenging to manage operational processes is crew management, recruitment, and training functions. With the growing scale of operations and the increased specialization of crew members concerning the type of ship and trade sector they are working for, crew management operations have been further complicated. As a result, many maritime companies are looking for solutions and technologies that can optimize their administrative process, help oversee their crew management functions, and ultimately increase productivity. 

Crew management and operations usually fall under the human resources department. The task has occupied the cost optimization plan as labor costs continue to increase with larger vessel sizes. What’s more, there is a growing issue in the cost vs. demand side of the equation, given that the number of suitable seafarers decreases at a global scale, yet the global market demand continues to rise. Therefore, there is a pressing need for shipping companies to utilize the existing workforce they have as efficiently as possible. On the other side of the spectrum, as the industry continues to acquire a more global identity, the types of seafarers begin to diverge significantly. Crew members may come from multiple national backgrounds, employment terms and conditions, individual circumstances and demands, diverging qualifications and abilities, immigration formalities and similar requirements, etc. In addition, each person may have a different validity period and expiration date for their documents, such as passports, certificates, and health documentation. It is not difficult to imagine the complexity of handling a portfolio with such different units; the only practical solution that can generate a cost-effective outcome is utilizing information technologies to optimize administrative processes and handle the human resources management of crew operations. 

How Can We Optimize Administrative Processes in Crew Management

There are ship management solutions, like Navatom, that offer modules in crew management, training, and recruitment. Such solutions capitalize on integrated, digitized, and cloud-based crew management systems that ensure increased administrative productivity and enhanced quality of work. Through utilizing information technologies, real-time functionalities, innovative approaches to workflow processes, these solutions respond to the HR needs of the maritime industry in the most holistic manner possible. 

What Does Crew Management Involve?

Crew management is not a task isolated to the recruitment or training for crew members; it includes a variety of activities such as:

• Crew management contracts that are later used in the manning of vessels

• Sourcing documents, recruitment paperwork, and selection processes

• Deployment, scheduling, and training programs

• Crew payroll services

• Crew travel arrangements

• Crew member insurance

• Crew health assistance and banking & financial procedıres

• Crew career guidance and mentoring

• Crew team building and internal programs

Given the vast complexity of crew management practices, the processes need to be handled with the utmost care and delicacy to ensure HR best practices. Integrating innovative approaches to these administrative tasks, such as cloud-based solutions like Navatom, can grant you the necessary support in optimizing and simplifying crew operations.