Northern Marine senior officers from around Europe gathered in Glasgow recently for the first Officer Seminar of the year held globally.

Hosted at the Radisson Blu in the city centre, the event brought together 50 experienced seafarers from across Northern Marine’s managed fleet, alongside colleagues from a range of shore-based departments dedicated to supporting ship management operations on behalf of shipowner clients.

The seminar provided an opportunity to hear from, and interact with, Company senior management, as well as to take part in practical workshops and discussions focused on key operational priorities. Themes included safety, vessel reliability and Northern Marine’s new Respect in the Workplace policy.

Addressing those in attendance, John Cook, Ship Management Director, thanked officers for taking the time to attend and emphasised the importance of two-way communication in helping overcome challenges and find solutions for clients, and for one another.

After reinforcing the priority of onboard safety, and everyone’s responsibility to remain vigilant and look out for colleagues, John also encouraged those attending to reflect on the importance of vessel reliability so shipowner clients can achieve commercial success.

John said: “We have a very good record regarding the reliability and availability of the vessels we manage. This should remain of great importance to us all. Our ability to operate ships reliably and make sure they are always available for business is of key importance to our clients.

“Our clients demand a ship manager who can manage their ship reliably and have it available for commercial business and minimise their off-hire risk. At the same time, you want to maintain the asset and ensure it retains as much value as possible. If they ever sell it, it will be in top-notch condition.”

John also spoke about the importance of Northern Marine’s new Respect in the Workplace policy, linking a respectful culture to both safety and performance.

He said: “A respectful culture underpins safe operations and strong performance. If people don’t feel able to speak up, we miss risks and we miss opportunities to improve.

“Respect in the workplace focuses on ensuring our working environments are free from harassment, bullying or bias and is also about enabling every individual to operate at their maximum potential.”

John added: “We all need to be in the same team, driving in the same direction, understanding each other’s roles and the challenges we face. That is why communication is key. These engagements, our seminars and safety weeks, are vital.

“This is not the only way we engage, but it is an opportunity where you are free from the normal day-to-day activities, particularly on ships.

“You have a voice, and it is important you know that voice is heard, it is understood, and at minimum you will get a response.”

As well as talks and presentations from management and shore-based teams, workshops were also held to explore how to manage onboard situations linked to Respect in the Workplace, with practical discussion on appropriate responses and consistent standards.

A social dinner in the evening was well attended and provided further opportunity for officers and shore-based colleagues to connect informally.

Reflecting on the event, Lee Jenkins, Chief Officer, said: “One of the main learnings from the seminar was it was very pleasing to see the emphasis and importance the company puts onto inclusion and diversity with the workshops held. Something which unfortunately is often not the case in the industry.

“Being new to the company I find functions such as this an excellent way to meet the faces and personalities behind the names at the end of emails and reports from the office.

“Seafarer seminars play a vital role in integrating the shore and sea teams into one unit where both can better understand the difficulties and also the successes of both, allowing us to better understand each other and work closer together in the future.”

Wayne Hawkins, Chief Officer, added: “The core root learning for me was that we are driving a positive culture onboard.

“In terms of the Respect in the Workplace workshops and exercises, it was good to see that I was already on the right lines of how I would manage such situations onboard, and the conference allowed me to refine those related management skills.”

Northern Marine’s next seminar will be held in Mumbai, with further seminars for various ranks planned throughout the year.

ENDS