In Command Shipping Companies 1 Shipping Companies The crew's perception of the shipowner's office The type of situation found on your first command depends on many factors, the prime one being the company that owns or manages the ship. A company that owns and manages their own ship is far more likely to retain some pride of ownership and be willing to pay more for that ship to be run properly. Generally, the smaller the company, the more attention is likely to be paid to the ship and more care is likely to be taken in the selection of the officers and the command. Once trusted, the more freedom the command will have in the management of that ship. In the larger companies, the ‘office’ is more likely to control the command with, at the extreme end, the entire running of the ship dictated by the office with the Captain largely in the role of an observer who ensures the tramlines are followed A ee) of * leadership” in the industry. —— e..when they got all that telex stuff and fancy phones in the 1980's -they thought it was an opportunity for those control freaks in the office to manage the ship from a distance. However, s those guys are all retiring now, the office has fully realised how much they've weakened most senior officer's abilities fomake a decisionIn Command Shipping Companies the most dificult, interesting and challenging commands will often come from Ship Management companies. With usually a mixed bag of ships, diferent registration ara es societies, different equipment, crews, trading patterns and with ships that often no senior management ever see, it becomes much more difficult for the company to standardise their management and so far more reliance must be put on tee Masters. Through ISM there is a framework and, within this, there is a certain sovel of support for newly joining Masters. However, there is a downside to this nuependence of command as itis coupled with the management company's aim of raring the ship as cheaply as possible for the owner. It must be remembered that the company is likely to have secured the management of the ship by promising this | remember one owner paying an unscheduled visit to his ship and being most surprised to find that the rust coated hull bore no resemblance to the touched up photo he had recently received from the ship management company. Stores immediately improved and shortly after, the ship was removed from that particular ship management company. Regardless of the ship or trade, there are usually problem areas that are common to all. In this book, | have tried to examine the more difficult situations. While | cannot offer solutions to many of these problems, | have provided some thoughts and ideas for consideration and some suggestions based on my own reactions to similar situations. ale The Company and Your Relationship Your relationship with your ship's manager is important! crete aster a this relationship is difficult as so much depends on the country and apace i operating office and its executives. Companies fall within a wide oR ae jose at the top taking interest in the welfare of all of the people that ‘em. The next group are the varied companies that operate specialist shipsIn Command Shipping Companies that require additional training, initiative in their officers, and often provide an interesting way to go to sea. Other companies operate good ships, following the rules, but with little interest in you or the crew other than that you should carry out instructions without question and go home. It can be quite depressing to work for such a company if it is not particularly interested in your initiatives, but really just want you to drive the ship. However, the pay is on time and your job (provided you follow their rules) is as secure as any at sea and you get your pension at the end. At the bottom end are the companies that operate with neither good ships nor good management. It is because of the prevalence of such companies we have the ISM code, as an attempt to enforce compliance with some standard of management and safety. The dilemma from a professional point of view is that it is within this group that your expertise can be not only recognised, but is very much wanted and well rewarded to compensate for corners cut elsewhere. As Captain you need to be happy with the company you've joined (or that has just promoted you). As you become Captain for a company you must decide what you want. Are you looking for excellent support from ashore, with a good officer and crew structure onboard, and will you be content with waiting for promotion and following the strict regulations such Companies will generally demand? Do you prefer to have short runs at sea and then go home frequently? Do you want the adventure of sailing toa wide variety of ports, tramping around the world on differing ships and crews with a wide variety of cargoes or would you rather enter the peripherals of the shipping industry by going into oil support ships and the wide variety of specialist ships ranging from salvage, towing and ship delivery to many other types? Provided you have the training to support your entry into these ships, which are outside the mainstream, this is where you can find the more adventurous side of life that can still exist at sea.In Command Do you know who actually owns your ship? Who are the owners we so often see a reference to? They seem to range froma group of scurrilous men, whose only pleasure in life is plotting the next callous deed against the seafaring community, to upright gentlemen devoted to mankind and their mother. The truth is, of course, neither. The present shipping executive cannot ith the same freedom that he did in the past but it would appear that the old pride in their ships has gone for ever. Now they are boxes carrying cargoes, floating hotels carrying holidaymakers or floating workplaces supporting industrial tivities on the sea Pp of the past created an atmosphere of loyalty and pride through a mbination of the appeal of belonging to “something” and the extra care and support they provided to families at home, albeit for a lower basic pay. However, 2s times became more commercially tough and these patrician style businesses started to fail, many of the loyal employees were left with redundancy money and poor ons. Today, there is a more “honest” relationship, with companies paying fora service from its employees and both sides more easily able to walk away when the tionship is not right gardle: will hav of the company you join, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. You © a few indicators about how the company regards the Captains they employ you are received in your introduction. Were you introduced to the Operations ‘or? In general, the larger the company the more you will be seen as 2 mmodity | remember being interviewed by a very large company in London. They es down in a space used for the garbage bins and a 23 year old began intent me. | walked out of the door. Another company, after 20 years in command wanted me to complete a 5 page psychological assessment, one question ™ which pet animal | would choose to be with on a desert island. Obvious!" tastiest, but | didn’t Stay for that job either.In Command Shipping Companies In the past, Captains were treated as senior executives within a company, with all the status and perks that implies. This is no longer the case, with the Captain now only providing the paid for service of ‘ship driver’ and rarely consulted or treated as a senior member of the company. Another strange fact about shipping is that, while you may be the most experienced Captain in the world, the minute you go to a new company you will start at the bottom, with little regard paid to your previously gained abilities or experience. Promotion is often obtained by staying longer than the others or by being in the right place at the right time. Rarely does any company promote completely on ability (although it is fair to say that shipping is not alone in this!). Shipping is a traditional business. When visiting the office for the first time wear a suit, it shows respect for those who employ you and it displays you as clean and smart. A bonus is that, if they invite you to lunch, they will feel compelled not to take you to Burger King or the hot dog stand. Common sense must apply during this first visit, remember that this company is going to put their ship in the hands of you, a relatively unknown commodity. Tact is always necessary when dealing with the office if you are to obtain their co- Operation rather than antagonism, and at this stage you do not know very much about how the company operates. As Captain you will see a broader spectrum of the company's affairs than you did when you were a Chief Officer and your attitude will inevitably change. Those ashore in the departments should really be seen as your colleagues and in some companies such a relationship can certainly be developed. Find out some basic information about the company that is about to employ you. If the ship is chartered, what kind of charter party? Who is the classification society? What are the drydocking schedules? How often is the ship visited by any department representatives? How do you escalate a problem?