Tools for easing handovers between rotational crew.
Rotational positions have long been sought after as a means of achieving a better work/life balance, and the frequency of these positions is increasing year on year. While higher crew longevity is often the primary objective, in recent years the focus has also turned to improving internal processes and the standard of work. From an engineering perspective, it means ensuring the smooth operation and uninterrupted use of the vessel. Collaboration tools such as planned maintenance systems (PMS) can mean easier handovers and result in better outcomes for the owner, program and crew.
Such systems, along with other things, provide the framework for vessel-related data to be captured and organized. When data is captured and kept with the vessel, it no longer resides only in the minds of crew coming and going. One example is a new inbound engineer — who may not have had the luxury of a detailed handover — looking to understand the bunkering and fuel transfer procedure on board. What is the safe flow rate? Is it possible to press the tanks? What is the correct valve configuration? These are all basic questions that if presented via a procedure checklist inside a PMS can remove the guesswork from this routine but potentially dangerous procedure.
The variety of tools available vary by PMS provider, but some features are tailor-made for rotational crew. Trend analysis plays an important role in letting an engineer understand whether equipment is operating within a safe range and is generally available for routine checklists, under way rounds and fluid analysis, meaning historical values can be compared side by side. Rotating crew contributing to collecting this data ensures the range is understood and limits the likelihood of human error when analyzing it.
Tools such as a digitized logbook create a single source of knowledge. With the right filtering system, planned maintenance systems enable rotating crew to search and locate vessel records, which ensures the smooth transfer of knowledge and improves the understanding of standard operating procedures on board.
The corporate world has long relied on collaborative software to achieve efficiency in a team environment, and yachting has started to adopt these tools for crew to create and share work lists between departments. PMS systems allow crew to efficiently document and assign tasks to the relevant people and provide administrators — usually captains, management or owner’s representatives — with oversight of the status of each item. For rotating crew, there can be greater collaboration and sharing of information, meaning fewer phone calls and WhatsApp messages when enjoying time off.