The Role of Shipping during COVID-19 Pandemic
It is through shipping that majority of the cargo is carried around the world and this particular process has even been made higher after the COVID 19 pandemic hit. The importance of the role of the shipping particularly during the pandemic has been properly understood by the IMO. This is what has led to the extended ship certificates and surveys. In order to keep the ship moving, some of the essential repairs will still be needed and this is what confirms the crucial role of the shipyard. However, all the activities must be carried out with consideration to the health of both the personnel of the shipyard and the crew of the ship (Kaup, ?ozowicka, and Blatnický, 2018).
The style of communication in the western cultures is usually direct and obvious seemingly. Others cultures are basically or generally discrete when it comes to the message presentation. Therefore, confusion is likely to emerge within the places of work.
A more obvious challenge which would be encountered while dealing with the multicultural workforce is barrier of language among the employees particularly fluency and accent. Despite the fact that English is regarded as standard language for businesses internationally, most of the non-English speakers will feel unappreciated and unnoticed in the workplace since they have difficulties in conveying the message in their non-native language.
It is important to note that the individual cultures do have their own way of coming to an agreement particularly when executive decisions are being made. There is very big different in cultures when it comes to how long how the process of decision takes, the steps which must be in place prior and the amount of efforts which maybe needed.
On the level of the project, the challenge would be that superintended must have a comprehensive plan breakdown prior to the arrival of the ship. This would ensure the materials required are available or any other alternative are acceptable by both owner and class. It will also help in the reduction of wastes. The primary obstruction that is presentably directed to the delivery of the material is the export and import across borders and the required updated clearances as a result of the pandemic (Wijanto, Sabas, and Andriono, 2021).
The next challenge is the service engineers’ arrangement. A formal which has been found to be effective is the service engineers’ replacement with the freelancers for instance the use of a certified inspector of paint to attend to the representatives of the company or the expert of mechanical in place of the representatives of the OEM.
Another potential solution which can be adopted in this particular case will be ensuring that the assignment is given to the third party contractors that are certified or the qualified personnel to perform the task with the yard offering support to the contractor within the frame of liability. It is also possible to have each step recorded and streamed online for the witnessing by the service engineers. Such kinds of the approaches have effectively solved most of the equipment used in navigation.
Communication Challenges in Multicultural Workforce Management
One of the biggest management challenges would be in the case of EGCS and BWTS retrofit projects that involve designers and OEM. In this regard, the project would be expected to suffer significantly from the clashes of modification especially when time comes for the onboard installation. Theoretical solution to this particular challenge would be having the optimum design. However in practical solution, there would be need of involving reliable and experience project team from the shipyard to carry out the processes of installation (Elwood, Lebel, and Levesque 2019).
During the period of the repair, it will be important that the meetings as well as the attendance should be minimized by the yard from both sides. Also media applications would be utilized to assist in the reduction of communication channel overlap.
The most difficult and challenging part of drydocking will be planning particularly when it comes to directing or curtailing the number of people in a specific direction at ago. This comes from the owner and shipyard representative agreement on the priorities. In order for the personnel and visitors if the shipyard to continue with their important role in the servicing of the industry of shipping, there will be a requirement of a team with open minded approach and with the ability of adapting to new regulations and rules to fit both needs of the business as well as requirements of safety hence minimizing infections.
Ballast Water Exchange is refereeing to the process of substituting water in the tanks of the ship ballast through the use of either flow-through, sequential or other methods that are deemed fit or have been made obligatory under the guidance of IMO so as to allow for the preservation of the ecology in the coastal lands which are biologically rich and is equivalent to those in the oceanic waters that are deep.
Despite the fact that ballast has remained to be indispensable for secure, safe as well as effectual shipping operations, it has been researched scientifically and proven by experts authorities that the water from ballast is one of the significant paths for the transfer of damaging and harmful aquatic organisms as well as other pathogens which pose serious economic, ecological as well as health problems and their introduction into the water bodies is likely to be characterized or associated with environmental hazards, impair biological diversity and this eventually affect the legitimate use of the same areas.
In this particular project in order to ensure compliance with the environmental regulations, the are certain requirements which must be complied with including:
- Ballast water Exchange will be carried out at least 200 nautical miles from the nearest land.
- The process of ballast water exchange will be carried out in the water at the depth of about 200 metres of depth.
- In the case that the ship is not in a condition of meeting the above requirements for several reasons including short duration of the voyage or as a result of the enclosed waters, the performance of the water exchange will be as far as possible from the possible nearest land. This however, will have to be at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land. The depth of water will still have to be kept at least 200 meters.
In addition to the recording of the temperatures of operation as well as the corresponding pressure of all the parameters of the engine operation as part of ensuring that the operation conditions remains efficient after and before docking, the crew and master engaged in the exchange of ballast water would be expected to be familiar and educated with the following:
- Approved conditions of vessel loading to e used during the exchange of ballast water.
- The vessel’s ballast piping and pumping arrangements, associated air position as well as positions of the sounding pipes of all the tank suction and compartment and their connecting pipelines to the pump of the vessel’s ballast particularly when the method of the flow-through is used.
- The means or the mechanisms of confirming the clarity of the sounding pipes, non-return devices and air pipes are properly in order.
- Consideration will be given to the required distance off the coast in undertaking various operations of exchange of ballast water. This would go alongside determination of the required time for the completion of the respective tanks.
Noting the specific particulars of the ship:
In this particular case, there will be noting of the flag state, IMO number, main dimensions, GRT, number and capacity of the ballast pumps, total ballast water capacity, capacities, total number of the ballast tanks segregated, free surface, appointed officer of the BWM among others (Eruguz, Tan and van Houtum 2017).
Language Barrier in Multicultural Workforce Management
This will include capacities and arrangement of the Tanks, ballast system piping diagram as well as diagram of the layout for the control system of the ballast. A set of diagrams or a list of diagrams which show access and sampling points in the tanks and pipelines. The points of sampling would be provided so as to allow the state officers of the port as well as the parties interested to confirm that exchange of ballast water has been carried out prior to the ballast water discharge.
It focused on the various circumstances that affect the safety of ship during the process of exchange of ballast water but not limited to the consideration of stability as the GM minimally required, consideration of strength such as avoidance of tanks’ overpressuerization, limits of torsional and longitudinal strength and finally training of the crew and other officers.
In sumarry, the environmetal conditions and recording would have to be considered in broader and wider dimensions:
- The position of the vessel including density of the traffic
- The sea conditions and weather forecasts
- The vessel’s loading and stability conditions
- The perforamnce and conditions of the vessel’s manoeuvrability and machinery.
Dry dock survey which involves stepping out of water will be necessary to allow for thorough inspection of the vessel. The vessel will be loaded into the service bay that is narrow and which water will be drained later exposing the whole structure for the inspection by the technicians (Rabar et al 2021).
It Is Important To Note That The Materials Made Of Metals For This Structure Are Susceptible To The Reactions Of Salty Water Humidity As Well As Temperatures. These conditions can potentially results into the corrosion-related defects. In order to uncover such kinds of the defects, survey will be necessary for the deterioration management and the following testing will be recommended:
This particular survey process is commonly known as ATS. It is known for offering testing on thickness. The vessel which would fall victim to the corrosion would mean to have suffered loss of materials in its components of the metals like the hull (Adland et al.2018). To assess the same components for the loss of materials, the surveyors will be expected to conduct ultrasonic thickness testing. The mechanisms of UTT utilizes the technology of ultrasound which involves sending of sound waves with higher frequency directly into the materials of the test via a probe. The waves are then reflected back into the probe. It is the properties of the returning signals that are analyzed in the determination of the material’s precise thickness. In so doing, the most effective repair mechanisms in terms of safety and cost would be recommended. It is important to note that safety will always take precedence over the cost!
Before getting underway, it will be important that undocking plan be implemented. Consideration will be given to the direction of the wind, the area’s traffic as well as the water depth. In this particular project, the process will include casting off lines as well as pulling in fenders as the wind blows away. When the vessel is safely and clear from the dock as well as other boats, the vessel will be shifted to forward and departure done at a speed which is relatively idle.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Decision-Making Process
Conclusion
Usually shipyards do find themselves in very difficult positions when it comes to the response to the emergency repairs and orders while at the same time considering the constraints of health and safety. For instance, it is extremely challenging or rather difficult to practice social distancing as well as policies of mask wearing while within the tank or when one is within the pump room. This particular paper has offered specific measures required for the vessel docking and repair maintenance.
References
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