The maritime industry must now treat behavioural competence as a core operational priority alongside technical skills, according to a recent analysis by Somiyeh Djavanroodi, head of the Nautical Institute Academy, published by Splash247. While shipping has always depended on competence, the article argues that modern complexity demands a deeper focus on how crew members communicate, maintain situational awareness, exercise judgement under pressure, and work collaboratively.
The Growing Importance of Behavioural Competence
Splash247 reported that modern seafarers operate under tighter commercial pressures, greater connectivity, more sophisticated technology, and increasingly integrated ship-to-shore operations. The article emphasised that behavioural competencies play a direct role in operational safety. For many years, the maritime sector invested heavily in technical training, but behavioural competence has been harder to define and evaluate — despite the fact that many incidents involve human or organisational factors.
Communication and Leadership Gaps
According to the article, communication breakdowns, poor feedback, ineffective leadership, unclear accountability, and failures in situational awareness can all undermine otherwise technically capable operations. These issues often arise not because individuals lack qualifications or experience, but because the human element in complex operational environments has not been properly understood or assessed.
The Nautical Institute Academy's Response
To address this gap, the Nautical Institute Academy developed its Behavioural Competency Assessor Course, bringing together experienced master mariners and maritime psychology experts. The article noted that the course is designed to support those involved in onboard assessments and audits by combining operational understanding with behavioural insight and practical application. Previous attendees have highlighted the value of connecting theory with real operational practice and the balance between practical exercises and behavioural understanding.
| Aspect | Technical Competence | Behavioural Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Knowledge, procedures, systems | Communication, judgement, teamwork, situational awareness |
| Assessment method | Exams, drills, compliance checks | Observation, feedback, psychological insight |
| Common failure mode | Procedural error | Breakdown in human interaction |
| Training approach | Technical courses, simulator training | Behavioural Competency Assessor Course by Nautical Institute Academy |
Implications for Operators and Crew
The article highlighted that safety is no longer understood simply as compliance with technical standards. It increasingly depends on how people interact with systems, with procedures, and with each other in real operational conditions. The industry must continue to strengthen not only technical capability but also the behavioural and human-centred skills that support safe and effective decision-making at sea.
Watch List
- Technological change: Digitalisation, automation, and increased data availability are changing how maritime professionals work, creating new operational pressures and demands on decision-making, attention, and teamwork.
- Assessment standards: Expect more widespread adoption of behavioural competency assessment in recruitment, training, and promotion.
- Safety culture: Growing recognition that human factors are central to incident prevention may drive regulatory and industry-led initiatives.
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