The international ship managers’ body, InterManager, has reaffirmed its support for the welfare of seafarers, described as the “heart and soul” of shipping, at The Connecticut Maritime Association’s Shipping 2016 Conference.
Moderating the morning session on Wednesday, entitled ‘How can crews stay connected?’, Gerardo Borromeo, President of InterManager heard from impassioned maritime stakeholders on how access to a good Internet connection has become a major concern of crews and, more widely, the shipping community. The panel discussed the impact of poor connectivity on the recruitment of new crew members and also on all areas of communication and ship operation.
Speaking of the wider human element, Mr Borromeo said: “Attracting a new generation of seafarers and retaining them means we have to become more connected; allowing them to connect with family and friends back home. Without good Internet, we could lose some of the brightest, best seafarers we have ever seen.”
Continuing its commitment to the human element of the industry, InterManager Vice-President George Hoyt moderated an afternoon session on fatigue; an issue InterManager continues to fight tirelessly to raise awareness of. Mr Hoyt spoke of the importance of the human element during his moderation and said: “The human element is crucial to successful ship management and we must ensure we work together as an industry to raise standards and to encourage good staff – the best and the brightest – to enter and stay in shipping.”