In the maritime sector, safety is of paramount importance. That is why we regularly speak to industry professionals who share their experiences, practical tips and valuable insights that help you work safely and efficiently.
Cor's tips on getting off to a good start
1. Be mindful of cultural and language differences and ask active questions to check that the message has been properly understood.
2. Use appropriate communication methods.
3. Be aware of hierarchy in certain cultures.
4. Share accident experiences to learn lessons and prevent future incidents.
5. Set a good example in safety yourself and share it with your team so that others will follow your example.
Talk about it!
Accidents happen to all of us. What you can do to improve safety? Talk about safety. Don't feel burdened to share what happened to you. What you had doubts about and think, ‘should I tell my mistake?’ There is a kind of shame in that. But if we don't share accidents with each other, we won't learn anything from them.
Start talking to each other, start sharing and set a good example yourself. If you start with a safe way of doing things that doesn't exist yet, others will follow. And stick to it. That's a really good start!
In some cultures, where hierarchy is important, employees will not easily dare to say ‘no’. This means you need to find other ways of checking whether the information has been properly understood. Being aware of these differences helps to work better together and start work well.
Sharing accidents
An effect of unsafe working is, by definition, an accident. The severity of the accident, of course, depends on exactly what happens. But if someone else has already experienced a similar accident and they share knowledge, we draw lessons from that and implement them in our own operations and way of working. Then we can prevent it from happening to ourselves.
It sounds a bit strange, but I compare talking about safety and accidents to a croquette sandwich. If you serve the sandwich and croquette separately, people will look and think, ‘how are we going to handle this?’ If one person grabs the bun, cracks it open and puts the croquette in, snaps it shut and starts eating it, other people are going to.
A good start in seafaring
A good start in seafaring starts with a focus on safety, especially for international crews. The basis for this lies in properly understanding who you have in front of you. This goes beyond technical knowledge and requires an understanding of both cultural and language differences.
It is important to match your approach to the background of your crew. Are you dealing with technical professionals such as mechanics? Then it is useful to take a technical approach. For example, you can use videos to show the impact of safety incidents on family members, which can help get the message across more clearly.
In addition, language and cultural differences are very important, even between the Netherlands and Belgium, misunderstandings can occur. By actively asking questions such as ‘Can you repeat what we agreed?’ you can check whether the message has come across well.
Theo's tips for a good start
1. Always ask about the course of action and coordinate with the shore. That way you avoid surprises and the day will run smoothly.
2. Safety starts with yourself. Don't trust something? Then don't do it.
3. Good preparation starts with a work meeting. Discuss possible hazards, check that the ship is ready and make sure everyone knows what is going on.
4. Cooperation makes all the difference. Make sure everyone is aware of the plans and possible risks.
5. An accident is in a small corner. Always stay sharp and prepare well to avoid accidents.
For me, it is crucial that we work well together. Everyone needs to know what is going on and whether any special safety measures are needed. Therefore, in addition to the kick-off, we sometimes hold a toolbox meeting or a job safety analysis. This depends on the situation. This way we make sure that everyone is really ready for the start and that no accidents happen. Dredging is and remains a beautiful profession. Every day brings something new and that makes it so much fun.
This allowed us to work safely and avoid accidents, as they are often in a small corner.
Starting the day off right
A good start to the day starts simply: waking up cheerfully and having a good breakfast. But it goes further. Before I relieve the boys, I always ask about how things are going. What has happened and what's ahead? I also coordinate with the execution ashore so that everyone is working in the same direction. This ensures a smooth day with no surprises and if we are all on the same page, we can enjoy our work.
Preparation is everything
A good start to a project always begins with a kickoff. During such a meeting, we discuss everything from the nature of the work to possible hazards. Are we dealing with explosives in the suction compartment? What is the weather like? You have to be clear about these things in advance. In addition, we always check whether the ship is ready to start. Are all systems up to date? Is the lifting crane working? Are the wires in order? If all that is in order, we can start our day.
A flying start
As a captain at Van Oord, I know better than anyone how important a good start is. It all starts with safety, and that always starts with yourself. If you don't trust something, just don't do it. It's also important to know where you can and cannot go on board the ship. Safety comes first, but it is also essential to understand how you start a project.
I remember well how we had the fastest start of all ships in the Suez Canal. We found ourselves in the middle of an ongoing project, calling from Dubai. We arrived and less than six hours later we were already dredging. The plan was completely known beforehand and during the trip we were given all the information we needed. On arrival, we grounded the gear, the anchors were set and the company management linked up. We were ready to start. Everything went smoothly, thanks to a good preparation and start.
Michiel's tips for a good start
1. It is important that crew members feel free to speak their minds, regardless of their rank. This prevents important issues from going unnoticed.
2. By understanding your team's culture, you can be more responsive to their way of communicating and working together. This can lead to a closer and more effective team.
3. While a captain should have the last word, he does not have to adhere to strict hierarchy. This makes for a better atmosphere and cooperation on board.
4. Creating a culture where everyone feels responsible for safety and can talk openly about it is essential for a safe working environment.
5. By being open to feedback and not being afraid to discuss mistakes, you create an atmosphere of trust. This will make crew members more likely to raise problems.
Despite the crew always continuing to address me as ‘captain’, I work to create an equal bond. I make sure they know that safety and cooperation are paramount. By building this trust, I not only improve the atmosphere on board, but also safety. When everyone feels free to speak up, dangerous situations are more quickly reported and resolved.
I know that the success of a ship depends on how well the crew interacts. A simple action, such as waiting for the right moment to attach a mooring line, can make the difference between a safe operation and a risky situation. By fostering respect, communication and mutual trust, I make a good start for a successful and safe adventure at sea.
For me, being on board a ship is all about good communication and a close-knit team. As captain, I play a key role in this. Not only do I set the course, but I also create an open atmosphere in which the crew feels free to speak. On this ship, with an Indonesian crew and Dutch officers, I see how cultural differences can be a challenge, but also an opportunity to build a stronger team.
Indonesian culture has a lot of respect for hierarchy. This can mean that crew members do not always say what they think, especially if they feel it is inappropriate to contradict their superiors. This can lead to problems when important issues go unnoticed. I understand this well and think it is important for everyone's voice to be heard. I encourage openness and do not want rank to be a barrier.
In the maritime sector, safety is of paramount importance. That is why we regularly speak to industry professionals who share their experiences, practical tips and valuable insights that help you work safely and efficiently.
Talk about it!
Accidents happen to all of us. What you can do to improve safety? Talk about safety. Don't feel burdened to share what happened to you. What you had doubts about and think, ‘should I tell my mistake?’ There is a kind of shame in that. But if we don't share accidents with each other, we won't learn anything from them.
Start talking to each other, start sharing and set a good example yourself. If you start with a safe way of doing things that doesn't exist yet, others will follow. And stick to it. That's a really good start!
In some cultures, where hierarchy is important, employees will not easily dare to say ‘no’. This means you need to find other ways of checking whether the information has been properly understood. Being aware of these differences helps to work better together and start work well.
Sharing accidents
An effect of unsafe working is, by definition, an accident. The severity of the accident, of course, depends on exactly what happens. But if someone else has already experienced a similar accident and they share knowledge, we draw lessons from that and implement them in our own operations and way of working. Then we can prevent it from happening to ourselves.
It sounds a bit strange, but I compare talking about safety and accidents to a croquette sandwich. If you serve the sandwich and croquette separately, people will look and think, ‘how are we going to handle this?’ If one person grabs the bun, cracks it open and puts the croquette in, snaps it shut and starts eating it, other people are going to.
Cor's tips on getting off to a good start
1. Be mindful of cultural and language differences and ask active questions to check that the message has been properly understood.
2. Use appropriate communication methods.
3. Be aware of hierarchy in certain cultures.
4. Share accident experiences to learn lessons and prevent future incidents.
5. Set a good example in safety yourself and share it with your team so that others will follow your example.
A good start in seafaring
A good start in seafaring starts with a focus on safety, especially for international crews. The basis for this lies in properly understanding who you have in front of you. This goes beyond technical knowledge and requires an understanding of both cultural and language differences.
It is important to match your approach to the background of your crew. Are you dealing with technical professionals such as mechanics? Then it is useful to take a technical approach. For example, you can use videos to show the impact of safety incidents on family members, which can help get the message across more clearly.
In addition, language and cultural differences are very important, even between the Netherlands and Belgium, misunderstandings can occur. By actively asking questions such as ‘Can you repeat what we agreed?’ you can check whether the message has come across well.
For me, it is crucial that we work well together. Everyone needs to know what is going on and whether any special safety measures are needed. Therefore, in addition to the kick-off, we sometimes hold a toolbox meeting or a job safety analysis. This depends on the situation. This way we make sure that everyone is really ready for the start and that no accidents happen. Dredging is and remains a beautiful profession. Every day brings something new and that makes it so much fun.
This allowed us to work safely and avoid accidents, as they are often in a small corner.
Starting the day off right
A good start to the day starts simply: waking up cheerfully and having a good breakfast. But it goes further. Before I relieve the boys, I always ask about how things are going. What has happened and what's ahead? I also coordinate with the execution ashore so that everyone is working in the same direction. This ensures a smooth day with no surprises and if we are all on the same page, we can enjoy our work.
Preparation is everything
A good start to a project always begins with a kickoff. During such a meeting, we discuss everything from the nature of the work to possible hazards. Are we dealing with explosives in the suction compartment? What is the weather like? You have to be clear about these things in advance. In addition, we always check whether the ship is ready to start. Are all systems up to date? Is the lifting crane working? Are the wires in order? If all that is in order, we can start our day.
A flying start
As a captain at Van Oord, I know better than anyone how important a good start is. It all starts with safety, and that always starts with yourself. If you don't trust something, just don't do it. It's also important to know where you can and cannot go on board the ship. Safety comes first, but it is also essential to understand how you start a project.
I remember well how we had the fastest start of all ships in the Suez Canal. We found ourselves in the middle of an ongoing project, calling from Dubai. We arrived and less than six hours later we were already dredging. The plan was completely known beforehand and during the trip we were given all the information we needed. On arrival, we grounded the gear, the anchors were set and the company management linked up. We were ready to start. Everything went smoothly, thanks to a good preparation and start.
Theo's tips for a good start
1. Always ask about the course of action and coordinate with the shore. That way you avoid surprises and the day will run smoothly.
2. Safety starts with yourself. Don't trust something? Then don't do it.
3. Good preparation starts with a work meeting. Discuss possible hazards, check that the ship is ready and make sure everyone knows what is going on.
4. Cooperation makes all the difference. Make sure everyone is aware of the plans and possible risks.
5. An accident is in a small corner. Always stay sharp and prepare well to avoid accidents.
Despite the crew always continuing to address me as ‘captain’, I work to create an equal bond. I make sure they know that safety and cooperation are paramount. By building this trust, I not only improve the atmosphere on board, but also safety. When everyone feels free to speak up, dangerous situations are more quickly reported and resolved.
I know that the success of a ship depends on how well the crew interacts. A simple action, such as waiting for the right moment to attach a mooring line, can make the difference between a safe operation and a risky situation. By fostering respect, communication and mutual trust, I make a good start for a successful and safe adventure at sea.
For me, being on board a ship is all about good communication and a close-knit team. As captain, I play a key role in this. Not only do I set the course, but I also create an open atmosphere in which the crew feels free to speak. On this ship, with an Indonesian crew and Dutch officers, I see how cultural differences can be a challenge, but also an opportunity to build a stronger team.
Indonesian culture has a lot of respect for hierarchy. This can mean that crew members do not always say what they think, especially if they feel it is inappropriate to contradict their superiors. This can lead to problems when important issues go unnoticed. I understand this well and think it is important for everyone's voice to be heard. I encourage openness and do not want rank to be a barrier.
Michiel's tips for a good start
1. It is important that crew members feel free to speak their minds, regardless of their rank. This prevents important issues from going unnoticed.
2. By understanding your team's culture, you can be more responsive to their way of communicating and working together. This can lead to a closer and more effective team.
3. While a captain should have the last word, he does not have to adhere to strict hierarchy. This makes for a better atmosphere and cooperation on board.
4. Creating a culture where everyone feels responsible for safety and can talk openly about it is essential for a safe working environment.
5. By being open to feedback and not being afraid to discuss mistakes, you create an atmosphere of trust. This will make crew members more likely to raise problems.
