Volume 2 Module 4 - Using Social Skills

Goals of this Module

  • Explore how social skills contribute to safety and wellbeing
  • Witness how a lack of social skills can affect all crew members
  • Show how social skills can help support others onboard the vessel

A merchant vessel is a good example of a system which combines technology and human beings.  It takes skill to maintain the engines of a ship, and to navigate it safely across the seas and waterways of the world. 

The same amount of skill is needed to get the best out of the people onboard and this means seafarers need good social skills4. 

A ship is a close community of people who have to work together for months at a time. Social skills help maintain good working relationships and contribute to the wellbeing and safety of the whole crew.

Social skills include active listening, observing emotions and intervening, and managing conflict.  But they also include things that can be difficult to measure, like care, trust, respect and cooperation.

seafarers need good social skills

Using Social Skills

Q: Take a look at this list and tick all the statements you agree with:

I try to think of ways to avoid problems, instead of waiting for problems to happen before I do something yes / no
I like to hear ideas from others when I make decisions yes / no
I like change and think about how things could be different yes / no
I like to work with other people to develop values and inspire excellence yes / no
 I am usually willing to look on the bright side yes / no
I am able to accept responsibility for my mistakes   yes / no
I let other people see the real me when I interact with them yes / no
I value a team approach over an individual approach yes / no
I am able to give other people credit for ideas and positive outcomes yes / no

Keep practicing, to maintain good relationships using your social skills!

Scenario 5

Q: Read the following scenario

The Chief Engineer (C/E) was not in a good mood. He had arrived on the vessel that evening to discover that the Captain was female.  She welcomed him warmly and said she was looking forward to working together. 

‘You too’, he muttered before heading straight to the Engine Control Room.

The C/E had not worked on this vessel before so started to familiarise himself with the equipment he would oversee through the return journey to Kuwait. He spotted the Second Engineer (2/E), who he knew well and called him over.

‘Have you seen the Captain?’ He asked. 

The 2/E nodded. 

‘She looks about twelve’ the C/E said, shaking his head. ‘I hope that the Chief Officer (C/O) knows what he’s doing, you know what I’m saying?’

The 2/E, not sure how to respond to this, just said, ‘Yes’.

The C/E hadn’t finished. ‘I might be a bit old-fashioned, but I don’t think it’s right. Do you?’

‘Well, er…’ The Second Engineer didn’t want to get into an argument with his boss, even though he disagreed with what the Chief Engineer clearly believed.  Fortunately, the Chief Engineer didn’t notice his discomfort.

‘So, listen, warn the rest of the team that we might get some strange requests, but whatever comes out of the bridge – make sure they check with me first.  OK?’

‘Er, OK’, the Second Engineer managed, then made his excuses and headed to his cabin.  It was going to be a long and difficult trip.

Q: Discuss the scenario

?What is your reaction to this scenario?
What do you notice about hte actions of the C/E?
What effect is the C/E likely to have on the entire crew?

Being a modern seafarer means respecting others and demonstrating that you care about them as professionals and as people.

Scenario 6

Q: Read the following scenario.

The Captain has asked Third Officer Ravi (3/O) to meet for a mid-trip review.

The Captain begins, ‘Let’s talk about that fishing vessel’.

‘I saw it’, the Ravi replies, ‘But I was busy with the positions and I thought you and the Pilot were aware of the traffic situation’.

The Captain nods, and says calmly, ‘I appreciate I was at fault in allowing myself to become distracted, and I know how busy the Officer of the Watch can get on pilotage.  It’s a case of prioritising.  If you see something is fast becoming a navigational hazard, please say so.  OK?’

Ravi shrugs and mutters, ‘OK’.

The Captain observes the shrug and, though he is used to rather more respect from an Officer, he suspects that there is more to this behaviour than he knows.  ‘Can I ask you something?’

The Ravi gives him a strange look.  ‘What?’, he replies like a bored teenager.

‘You have been a 3/O for six years now. Are you making progress towards your Class 2 exams?’.

‘I failed’, Ravi says and stares at the floor.

‘Are you planning on retaking them soon?’, The Captain asks.

‘Not really’.

‘Is there something I can do to help?’

‘Like what?’ Ravi looks suspiciously at the Captain.

‘I have been through the exams; I have an idea how to prepare for them’.

‘I hate exams'.

The Captain smiles. ‘I haven’t met many seafarers who enjoy them’.  A thought occurs to him.  In his mind’s eye he sees the logbook and the last entry made by 3/O Ravi.

‘May I ask you something else? Do you have difficulty making out letters and words?’   

Ravi looks up in surprise. ‘What if I do?’

‘Did you tell the examiners?’

‘No – you don’t like to admit that sort of thing’.

The Captain smiles.  ‘It’s incredibly common and it means that you are entitled to longer time to complete the exam’.

For the first time Ravi sits up and looks interested. ‘I didn’t know that’.

The Captain leans forward. ‘Look, Ravi, have a think about it, and if you would like to start preparing for your Class 2 exams, come and find me and we can talk through how to revise and what the examiners are looking for. OK?’

Ravi nods, and almost smiles. ‘OK’. He gets up ‘I’m on watch in five minutes'.

‘I’ll see you soon’, the Captain says, and offers his hand.

Ravi shakes his hand and leaves. The Captain takes a deep breath. It took some effort to keep his temper and not to remind Ravi who was the boss.  But he managed it!

Q: Discuss the scenario

?what did the Captain do that used his social skills?

Summary of volume 2, module 4

Q: Take a moment to write down what you will remember from this session and what you want to do as a result.

In this session we have talked about using social skills. 

We scored our own use of social skills against a checklist.

We saw how a lack of social skills can undermine the smooth and safe operation of a ship. 

We also saw how excellent social skills, as the Captain demonstrated in the previous scenario, can have a very positive effect on other people.

References for this module include the following sources:

[4 For more about Social Leadership: The Social Leadership Handbook, Julian Stodd