New industry guidance has been launched to help shipping companies strengthen crew safety familiarisation and ensure compliance with international regulations and best practice.
Developed jointly by Nautilus International, the UK Chamber of Shipping and the RMT union, the guidance was unveiled today at the UK’s National Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Committee – the tripartite body bringing together shipowners, maritime unions and regulators to improve seafarer health, safety and wellbeing.
Aimed at shipping company managers, safety officers and training providers, the guidance covers all ranks and sets out what effective onboard familiarisation should look like. This includes introducing crew to the ship’s layout, safety procedures, emergency equipment and key onboard responsibilities.
The guidance highlights the benefits of a robust onboarding process, including improved safety, wellbeing, retention and morale, as well as reducing accidents and helping new crew settle into life on board more smoothly.
It also makes clear that familiarisation and handover are separate but equally important parts of onboarding, recommending that companies appoint a dedicated familiarisation manager and clearly define crew responsibilities. Crew feedback mechanisms, such as surveys and suggestion boxes, are also encouraged to help drive continuous improvement.
Nautilus head of professional and technical David Appleton was involved in developing the document. He commented: "No seafarer should ever step aboard an unfamiliar vessel and be expected to work or respond to an emergency without knowing the ship's layout, equipment and procedures.
"These guidelines set out exactly what good familiarisation looks like and who is responsible for delivering it. We encourage companies operating ships of all types and flags to adopt them."
- You can download the document Safety Familiarisation: Guidelines to Shipping Companies from our Resources section
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