Vessel Operation Dilemma: Cost Efficiency vs Safety

It is normal for vessel companies that each departments work together for smooth shipment. However, there is a normal confliction between commercial and ship management about safety first and cost efficiency. All departments are required to balance safety and expenses even master is the one who make final decision during sailing. The below situations will show some situation samples.

Route Distance and Speed

As industrial practice, marine department and master plan passage route considering weather and safety factor. If vessel faces bad weather, operations department and master begin to discuss on changing of route or speed. Each option will increase cost for voyage, then commercial department has an authority to question on how inevitable situation. Vessel operator needs to explain how much danger vessel face compared to how much extra expense occur. It might not consider only additional cost, but berthing schedule and delay time are also required to take into this account.

Next, piracy area is one of the most topic that marine and commercial departments demand to discuss and negotiate since some voyage routes require to pass or sail near piracy route. Boarding crew life is the most important no matter what, therefore safety equipment and guard need to set on board before sailing. Marine and technical departments are the lead to balance how much equipment are necessary and how much costs are added..

Loadable Stowage Plan

Every port call, port regulation and restrictions are the most essential factor for calculating stowage plan in terms of draft, displacement and UKC. Commercial department always want vessel to load as max as possible, but QHSE and marine departments consider safety as priority. Therefore, operations department is mediator to balance between loadable capacity and safety as vessel operator liaise with master on stowage plan calculation including verify vessel condition and port limitations.

Furthermore, ballast management is another circumstance that master and operations department mostly discuss during stowage plan calculation since it affects to vessel displacement and draft. Ballast water is a tool that could increase vessel capacity to load more cargo and vessel stability for safety. Master is the key person who is able to manage between cargo quantity and vessel condition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all departments and crew on board cooperation are the most crucial element to balance cost efficiency and safety during vessel operation.