Ship Management Companies Research Articles

Factors affecting E-HRM practices in Greek shipping management companies: the role of organizational culture, cultural intelligence, and innovation

HRM is forced to adapt and reinvent its practices towards more innovative and creative frameworks and models, due to the impetus technological developments in the modern business environment. The same applies to the elements of the organizational culture and corporate structure, which are decisive for the success of such initiatives. To undergo the shift to digital transformation, there is a need for human resource development professionals to invest in advanced competencies and capabilities. The scope of this paper is to examine the concept of digital innovation and HRM digitalization in the shipping industry and their relationship with corporate culture, intelligence, and leadership. Data were collected via a survey conducted in Greek shipping companies, and personal interviews with maritime professionals. Findings show that organizational culture and cultural intelligence are significant factors for digital innovation. Digital culture and digital leadership are proving to be important components in achieving this, whereas organizational cultural intelligence has a major impact on e-HRM. The present research contributes at both academic and policy level. In the former case is assists in bridging the gap in the maritime literature by examining digital innovation and e-HRM practices in the shipping industry along with the required skills for their development or enhancement. In the latter case the paper assists in the documentation of challenges maritime companies face in relation to digitalization practices and how policy makers can assist in their adoption.

Evaluation of human error in oil spill risk in tanker cargo handling operations.

Cargo handling operations on board tankers pose a significant threat to the cleanliness and health of the ocean ecosystem. Incidents originating from these operations are often attributed to human error, as widely acknowledged. Therefore, it is crucial to control the human factor involved in these operations to enhance ship safety and foster a sustainable, clean marine environment. To tackle this problem, this paper presents a novel model that identifies the causal factors behind oil spills resulting from crew failure in these operations. To attain this, fuzzy Bayesian network (FBN) approach is used in this study to analyse the probabilistic correlations among the causal elements that are disclosed qualitatively and quantitatively. Sensitivity analyses and validation procedures are carried out to enhance the accuracy of results. Eliminating errors in cargo calculation is of paramount importance as research has shown that such errors lead to the largest impact on spill during loading and discharging (L&D) operations. The study's findings offer valuable insights into the causes of L&D operation-related spills. Ship management companies, the loss-prevention division of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (P&I), and regulatory bodies may employ the research results to prevent spill repetitions and protect the marine environment.

Research on classification and navigational risk factors of intelligent ship

Based on combing the concept and development of intelligent ship, this paper brings forward the summary and classification of intelligent ships proposed by different institutions, and the main classification schemes are compared accordingly. Then one of these classification schemes is selected to study what are the key navigational risks under each grading level, with a detailed analysis of these risk factors. Finally, the index system of navigational risk factors for intelligent ships under different classification standards is constructed to lay a foundation for a further study of intelligent ship safe navigation, and at the same time avoid some risk factors in advance for the maritime management department, ship management companies, and ship design and research institutes.

Determinants of Ship Management Revenues: The Case of Cyprus

We explore, for the first time in the literature, how the revenues of ship management companies respond to macroeconomic exogenous shocks. Using data for ship-management companies in Cyprus, we find evidence that a demand shock has the largest impact on revenues, exhibiting an almost one-for-one relationship. If the demand shock is permanent, we observe a ceteris paribus permanent effect on revenues. Similarly, this occurs irrespective of the final effect that demand has on the relevant freight rate, proxied via the Baltic dry and tanker (dirty and clean) indices. The BDI and the BDTI indices have a smaller effect on revenues, standing at approximately 0.05% for every 1% shock, while the clean tanker index does not have an effect, most likely due to their fleet composition. In accordance with the literature, we find that a shock in the price of Brent oil increases revenues. Our results bear importance not only for ship management companies per se, but also for countries that are ship management hubs.

Application of Fuzzy Delphi-AHP-TOPSIS for Selecting an International Crew Change Center in Taiwan

The COVID-19 crisis has brought disruption to the global economy and to international passenger and cargo transportation, and the unprecedented crew change crisis remains an issue for governments around the world to address. The selection of a port for international crew changes is a major decision for a country, and this port selection can be considered as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) issue. As with other facility-siting issues, the issue of selecting a port for international crew changes requires consideration of several criteria relative to cargo transshipment, and since this process involves uncertainty, fuzzy logic must be incorporated into the process to obtain more accurate results. This study proceeds from the standpoint of shipping companies and ship management companies, conducting a survey questionnaire on carriers calling at Taiwan ports using cargo structure, transit costs, transit time, environmental factors, geographic location, infrastructure, and crew safety certification facilities. Fuzzy Delphi and FAHP are used to obtain the subjective opinions of carriers and FTOPSIS is used to explore and prioritize the objective opinions of carriers on international crew change ports. This is then used to construct an evaluation model of the key factors influencing the selection of an international crew change location for the development of Taiwanese ports. The results of the study showed that the hinterland industry economy was the main key factor and Kaohsiung container terminal 5 was the most suitable place for crew replacement.

A hybrid approach to near-miss report investigation towards next-generation safety solutions on-board ships

The human element is a key aspect of safety at sea. It is highlighted as the most contributing factor to the various accidents, incidents, hazardous occurrences and near-miss events onboard ships. This paper proposed a hybrid approach to systematically identify the causations leading to the occurrence of near-miss events onboard ships. The methodology is based on Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) and Analytical Network Process (ANP). The HFACS investigates the potential causes under unsafe acts, pre-conditions for unsafe acts, unsafe supervision, and organizational influences. As dependencies among the selected causes are observed in the near-miss report prescreening, the ANP proved to be a suitable method for consistently clustering and prioritization. The hybrid approach is demonstrated with published 2828 near-miss reports of 25 different shipping companies in 3 years period. A novel contribution of this study is to strictly provide preventive action recommendations from safety engineering, information and communication technology perspectives. The validity of conventional and next-generation safety solutions is tested and benchmarked with the responses from ship management companies. Since the near-miss analysis is recently a focal requirement of maritime conventions and third-party inspection regimes, this study encourages marine technology providers to promote next-generation safety solutions on-board ships.

Analytic Evaluation of Intellectual Capital for Ship Management Companies Under a Fuzzy Environment

Analytic Evaluation of Intellectual Capital for Ship Management Companies Under a Fuzzy Environment

A quantitative effectiveness analysis to improve the safety management system (SMS) implementation on-board ship

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code seeks to provide safety standards for the safe management and operation of ships. The code stipulates implementing a safety management system (SMS) on-board ship. The SMS requires the implementation of numerous procedures and forms to improve safety at the operational level on-board ship. The SMS effectiveness is vital for sustainable safety management system implementation. This paper aims to perform a comprehensive effectiveness analysis of ISM Code implementation, including forms and procedures, on-board ship to enhance the safety management system (SMS) implementation. To accomplish this, a best-worst method (BWM) is used under a fuzzy logic environment. Whilst the fuzzy BWM has yet to be applied in maritime transportation; it provides a robust analysis approach. The proposed method is improved by adopting the impact level of expert judgments in the aggregation stage of the methodology as well as performing consistency analysis. Besides its robust theoretical insight, the outcomes of the paper provide the utmost contribution to ship management companies and safety professionals for continuous improvement and monitoring of their safety management systems implementation.

A Preliminary Study on Challenges Faced by Ship Management Companies during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has had disruptive effects on many industries and the maritime industry is no different. Seafarers have been struggling with the restrictions brought about by the pandemic for almost two years now; however, ship management companies that employ them also face serious challenges. With that in mind, this study aims to identify the challenges and their extent. To achieve this aim, first the common challenges faced by seafarers and ship management companies were found through unstructured interviews with ship masters. This was followed by a questionnaire process carried out with the ship management companies, employing the emerging codes. The results show how crew change operations, lack of uniformity among the restrictions of different countries and lack of perceived involvement by international maritime organizations form part of the challenges faced by ship management companies during the pandemic.

Systematic Analysis of Multi-Source Inspection Database via Ship Smart Audit System

This study proposes a methodology to deeply analyze the multi-source inspection/audit findings gathered from a ship fleet to promote and implement proactive measures systematically. In addition to the ship audit reports of Company-A operating 16 bulk carriers in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the multi-source inspection database also consists of benchmarking datasets of different fleets. The Ship Smart Audit System (SSAS), including data collection, causation, analysis and prioritization, and implementation phases, is developed to strengthen the maritime regulatory compliance. Particularly, the Marine Systematic Cause Analysis Technique (M-SCAT), Cognitive Mapping (CM), and Pareto analysis are integrated into methodological background of the study. The SSAS is demonstrated with 5,000 findings from the benchmarking dataset and, subsequently, over 1,900 findings from the Company-A. Then, cause priorities, root cause trends, preventive actions, and audit item preferences are identified as an interconnected process of the ship management company. Consequently, the study encourages maritime executives to increase the effectiveness of pre-inspection and internal audit implementations.

Maritime resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: impacts and solutions

PurposeThis study aims to study the resilience of the maritime industry by analyzing the impacts of COVID-19 on the maritime industry, in particular, on the shipping management aspect and offshore sector, investigate the effectiveness of current solutions and recommend future solutions for the industry to reduce or mitigate the negative impacts.Design/methodology/approachIn order to better appreciate resilience in the maritime industry, the study conducted secondary research and semi-structured online interviews to (1) identify the impacts of COVID-19 on the shipping management and offshore sector, (2) analyze the effectiveness of current solutions and (3) provide some strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the current measures.Findingshe results are congruent with existing literature which indicate that the pandemic has negatively affected the global economy, changed the global trade network and contributed to the sharp decline in demand for oil. In response to the pandemic, governments have implemented safety and health-related measures such as lockdown, safe-distancing and travel restrictions. Often, measures differ from countries to countries and these non-standardized and changing regulations further increase the challenges faced by the industry. From the shipping management perspective, the industry experienced issues such as crew changing, trade contraction and the expiration of shipping certificates, which supported and validated current research. Meanwhile, the offshore industry is challenged by the increasing market volatility and uncertainty, increasing need to source for alternative fuels and the declining oil exploration activities. Current strategies adopted by shipping management companies include crew change management, capacity management and the extension of ship certificates, whereas offshore industry chose to collaborate with oil majors.Research limitations/implicationsBy identifying the impacts and challenges and studying the effectiveness of solutions adopted by the maritime industry, this paper allows maritime industry stakeholders and policymakers to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of the global health crisis and strengthen the resilience of the industry. However, as the pandemic continues to develop and evolve, strategies need to be reviewed continuously in response to the changing situations.Originality/valueThis research analyses the impacts and solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributes to the development and formulation of strategies to strengthen the resilience of maritime transport.

Evaluation of Determinant Factors Influencing the Selection of Ship Management Companies

Evaluation of Determinant Factors Influencing the Selection of Ship Management Companies

The cost-effectiveness of CO2 mitigation measures for the decarbonisation of shipping. The case study of a globally operating ship-management company

The International Maritime Organisation has set a goal to achieve a 50% reduction of the total annual greenhouse gas emissions related to the international shipping by 2050 compared to the 2008 baseline emissions. Thus, companies are looking for solutions and measures to align with the Organisation's goal. Marginal Abatement Cost Curves have been extensively used in the literature to rank several Greenhouse Gas mitigation measures based on their costs of reducing an additional unit of pollution. In this paper an expert-based, bottom-up approach was employed to construct Marginal Abatement Cost Curves for a globally operating ship-management company. Several mitigation measures were examined for the following vessel categories (a) Containerships 8000+ TEU, (b) Containerships 2000–2999 TEU, (c) Bulkers 35000–59999 DWT, and (d) Gas Tankers <49999 CBM. Furthermore, the fuel price fluctuation and carbon taxation were used to investigate the sensitivity of baseline Marginal Abatement Cost Curves. The measures, which remain cost-effective under all sensitivity analyses, undergo a Pareto Analysis and a Marginal Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. The results suggest that most of the recommended mitigation measures are of an operational and technical nature, with exception the burning of Liquified Natural Gas and the installation of Flettner Rotors for the Gas Tankers. The company could save up to 17% CO2 emissions and approximately 2 million dollars per year compared to the 2019 baseline by employing all recommended mitigation measures to all vessel categories. In addition, Carbon Storage and Capture could become a cost-effective solution with appropriate carbon taxation, but it is not the ultimate solution since it does not lead to independence from fossil fuels. The study also reveals that depending on the operating condition, even within the same vessel category, different mitigation measures should be employed.

Research on Port Ship Pollution Prevention and Control System Based on the Background of Marine Environmental Protection

In the context of marine environmental protection and ecological protection, the article discusses the operating conditions of ship’s main pollution prevention equipment such as marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and the disadvantages of difficult monitoring of ship exhaust emissions. This paper designs an ocean-going ship based on Beidou Integrated pollution prevention and monitoring system for environmental protection vessels and ports. The system can continuously send information on the operating conditions of marine sewage discharge, oil-water separators and other equipment and ship exhaust emissions to shore-based ship management companies and maritime regulatory agencies through Beidou satellites in real time, providing technical support and information support for remote monitoring. At the same time, it effectively prevents the occurrence of marine pollution by ships and creates a new model of marine environmental protection.

디지털 플랫폼 기반의 국내 선박관리산업 발전에 대한 연구

The role of the ship management industry is expected to change due to the recent development of smart autonomous operation technology. As a result of this change, a new development plan for the domestic ship management industry in the future is needed. However, it is true that domestic ship management companies are relatively small compared to the global competitors and have inferior competitiveness. The global competitiveness and limitations of the domestic ship management industry were analyzed through case analysis of representative ship management companies at domestic and foreign and in-depth interviews with related parties. It now proposed changes in the role of the ship management industry as a digital platform supplier, not just physical ship management. It proposed ways to develop the ship management industry based on Digital Platform in Korea, such as supporting digital platform-based infrastructure and ecosystem creation, securing core technology in ship management and supporting R&D.

Analysis on the Civil Liability of Third-Party Ship Management

Third-party ship management is the management of ships by professional companies independent of shipowners and charterers. It is the result of the mature development of the international shipping industry and the refinement of the division of labor in the industry. Since its emergence in the 1950s, it has played an increasingly important role in improving the flexibility of ship operations, reducing ship operating costs, and improving the level of professional services. In China, it has only been about 21 years since the first ship management company was born, and the whole industry is still in the process of exploration. The relevant legal provisions are not sufficiently clear. Theoretical studies on ship managers have also focused on management strategies and less on civil legal liability. To better understand the legal liability of ship managers, this paper identifies the concept and characteristics of ship managers based on the fundamental theories of civil law. The civil liability of ship managers is discussed in terms of breach of contract, tort, and contract negligence, taking shipping practice and standard agreements into account. According to the different legal provisions and judicial practice, it is proved that the liability of ship managers is becoming increasingly strict. They must be partially responsible for the safe and proper operation of the ship, and the legal status is not only as of the shipowner's agent. The paper also analyses the situations where the ship manager may not benefit from the limitation of liability and suggests that this should be considered in the management agreement or legal regime.

Understanding CSR and sustainability integration patterns into the corporate governance and organisational processes of a ship management company: a case study

In recent years there has been a growing use of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development concepts, both as international policy frameworks and as self-regulating business models. The International Maritime Organisation, guided by its recent commitment to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has acknowledged and encouraged the engagement of these principles to the shipping industry. However, the literature review showed some limited research to their practical application and understanding at the ship management level. Through an adopted case study strategy and applied content analysis method, this paper explores how CSR and sustainable development are integrated and diffused into the corporate governance structure and organisational processes of a shipping company. The results underscore the extensive handling of aspects of CSR and sustainable development throughout company's strategy and organisational processes. However, company issues falling within fair operating practices and areas of community involvement do appear to be lagging behind.

COVID-19 and seafarers' rights to shore leave, repatriation and medical assistance: a pilot study.

The well-being of the world's 1.65 million seafarers is expected to be secured by the rights established under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 with active monitoring of its implementation by the flag administrations through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO). However, the substantial gains achieved since entry into force of MLC in August 2013 appear to have been severely dented by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The aim of the study was to examine, on a pilot basis, the disruptions and challenges to the observance of seafarers' rights to shore leave, repatriation and medical assistance as an immediate consequence of COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on seafarers' rights was examined in three dimensions - shore leave, repatriation and medical assistance. Questionnaires were administered online from June to August 2020 to 450 seafarers, top 10 ship-management companies, 35 shipping companies and maritime administrations of top 5 seafarer supplying countries. The paper discusses the results of the survey. The research revealed a previously unknown majority preference for shore leave, that diminished sharply during COVID-19. Impact on work-performance and well-being of seafarers was revealed with only a fifth of the seafarers having willingly agreed to an extension of contract. This study revealed incidence rates at 6 months into the pandemic of several parameters - delayed repatriations (21.44%) that includes crew with contract extensions (12.48%), crew with completed contract awaiting repatriation (8.96%) and crew that had exceeded 12-month continuous service (0.82%). Compensation, if provided, is meagre and was affecting ratings the most. Deprivation of medical assistance was also revealed. The well being of seafarers would likely remain vulnerable to breaches, unless measures are put in place to safeguard the rights assured under MLC in the face of uncertainties caused by a pandemic such as COVID-19.

Application of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of improved AHP in ship safety evaluation in plateau reservoir area

There are many factors that affect the safety of transport ships in the plateau reservoir area, which makes it difficult to allocate weights reasonably, and a large amount of single factor information is submerged. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model using improved AHP (AHP) is proposed, the advantages of the model are explained, and the method of constructing the model is introduced. The practicality of the model is verified through examples, and the results show that the model can scientifically and reasonably assess the safety risks of ships, and provide a reference for ship management companies and maritime safety bureaus to improve management methods.

Employees of the Global Labor Market and the Polish Social Security System

Purpose: The aim of this article is to determine whether privileging a professional group in the national social security system - persons working at sea (officers and ratings) and therefore on the global labor market - is justifiable for the national economy. Privileges would be to adopt rules for collecting social security contributions a way different than the one commonly used. Its assessment would be taken from the economic point of view. Thus, the assessment of economic rationality of creating a gap in the social security system for people working at sea is the basic theme of the research presented in the article. Approach/Methodology/Design: The characteristics of the modern maritime labor market was based on a review of the literature. The analysis of reports on ship operating costs indicated a key element which is the cost of crew employment. A comparative analysis of crew employment costs resulting from the Polish social security system and a selected social system attractive for seafarers showed huge disproportions. The next step was to calculate the benefits and costs of applying non-common rules. These rules were prepared by Polish ship management companies. Findings: The results of the conducted research clearly show that the introduction of reliefs for Polish seafarers in the Polish legal system will not be a burden on the Polish budget, but it will also generate revenues that the budget is currently deprived of also. Practical Implications: The research results clearly show that the introduction of separate regulations for people employed on ships, i.e. on the global labor market, will generate favorable conditions for shipping operations in Poland and for registering ships under the Polish flag. This, in turn, thanks to high multipliers of shipping activities can translate into faster development of the maritime service and production sphere. Originality/Value: The results precisely indicate positive, from the economic point of view, effects of creating a gap in the social security system for seafarers, highly qualified employees of the global labor market.