There are several cost, efficiency, and profitability benefits for ship owners who retain sailor employees in their ship fleet for the long term. Here are some key advantages:
- Reduced recruitment and training costs: Retaining experienced sailor employees reduces the need for frequent recruitment and training. Hiring and training new employees can be time-consuming and costly. By retaining sailors, ship owners can save on recruitment expenses, such as advertising, screening, and interviewing, as well as training costs.
- Enhanced operational efficiency: Long-term retention of sailor employees allows for better familiarity with the ship’s operations, procedures, and safety protocols of your fleet due to their familiarity. Experienced sailors with the same fleet/ Company are more efficient in their roles as they require less supervision and can perform their tasks with greater accuracy and speed. This leads to improved operational efficiency and smoother ship operations.
- Increased productivity: Sailors with your fleet for a long time from their cadetship days are likely to be more productive. They would have developed a deep understanding of the ship’s systems, equipment, and maintenance requirements. This knowledge and experience enable them to identify and resolve issues quickly, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity and handling regulators in Port State Inspections.
- Improved safety and reduced accidents: Consistently retaining sailor employees promotes a safety-focused culture onboard the ship as decided and implemented by your organization and Flag State Administrations under IMO. Experienced sailors from the same fleet are familiar with safety protocols and are more likely to adhere to them, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. This can lead to lower insurance premiums, reduced liability, and a safer working environment for all crew members.
- Enhanced crew morale and teamwork: Long-term retention fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among sailor employees. When sailors work together for an extended period, they develop strong working relationships, trust, and effective communication. This leads to improved crew morale, cooperation, and a positive work environment, which can have a direct impact on the ship’s overall performance.
- Lower turnover costs: High turnover rates can be costly for ship owners. When sailors leave frequently, it results in additional recruitment, training, and onboarding expenses. By retaining sailor employees, ship owners can minimize turnover costs and allocate resources towards other critical areas of their operations.
- Reputation and customer satisfaction: Retaining experienced sailor employees can positively impact a ship owner’s reputation and customer satisfaction. Customers often prefer to work with familiar and experienced crew members who have a proven track record. This can lead to repeat business, positive word-of-mouth referrals, and a competitive advantage in the market.
- Better Crew Postpones Your Dry Dock: Increased operational efficiency and better maintenance with dedication and care to your assets without ambiguity saves you millions of dollars by postponing timeline for a Dry Dock of your ship. Aids better returns on your investment.
In summary, long-term retention of sailor employees in a ship fleet offers numerous cost, efficiency, and profitability benefits. By investing in their workforce and creating a supportive work environment, ship owners can optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance.
Feel welcomed to contact us for recruiting cadets from our Maritime Training Institute under Sponsorship (without any cost or investment) as per requirements of your fleet. Or Contact us for a plain template of Career Progression Planning we have for our cadets to be recruited in your organization/ fleet.