With Shipping at the forefront of global supply chains, the unavoidable fact is that today, people are at the heart of its safe operation.
When things go wrong, the impact, as we know, can be significant. World trade can be affected, environmental damage could be catastrophic and market confidence could plummet, all of which have a significant impact on insurance costs.
The risks associated with these avoidable incidents can be offset with effective and ongoing staff development if it is not simply a box-ticking exercise. Let’s not forget, Operator records form part of Underwriters' assessment of risk, given human error is often a contributory factor to loss.
A compliant, competent, and confident Navigational Team ensures safety at sea, continually considering risk and mitigation and applying the very best practices at all times.
As we know, the cost of staff development is always a concern when annual budgets are formed, but surely compliance, competence and confidence should be accompanied by clear ROI, given its low-cost base, as opposed to the penalties for non-compliance.
Trying to square this circle has been an ongoing challenge for the industry; here at Kilo, we are now delivering ColRegs and BRM training via a contemporary blend of technology and techniques that provide underpinning knowledge, validation of understanding and then evaluate the practical application of skills.
Optimising digital, we ensure staff are developed at a time and place suitable to them and that progressive scenario-based learning continues to reinforce knowledge and eradicate skill fade.
How do we do this? Providing every individual with access to a modern learning environment, they can access a full suite of resources and courses applicable to the subject matter, where development pathways are defined and knowledge checks conducted.
Structured in a modular fashion, the theoretical knowledge is consolidated within a safe and low-cost Virtual Reality training environment entitled VASCO.
Within VASCO, users are supported by Professional Trainers who mentor, coach and evaluate individuals and teams within challenging maritime scenarios, where complexity is increased and always aligned with user capabilities.
Performance reporting provides an objective assessment of standards and permits business leaders to have complete visibility of capability within their navigational teams.
Reductions in time, travel and expenses are only the start of the return on the investment.
Should we now be taking this to our insurers and encouraging fresh thinking around how we square the circle with training investment and insurance contributions?