If the barking orders and the bell pulls are finished, any management system still needs to be as simple as possible for all the crew to use, not just the engineers, suggests David Clarke at Superyacht Operating Systems (SOS). It should allow the crew to enter and update their own details and upload certificates, whether they’re on board or ashore. And it should have a built-in verification process for the captain or purser to monitor. All data entered should seamlessly populate crew lists, digital In/Out Board, Vacation Tracker, Hours of Rest, Familiarisation, Muster List, and so on without the need to re-enter duplicate data. “Lastly,” says Clarke, “all this information needs to be accessible to the shore-based fleet manager for compliance with the relevant codes, transparency, and general vessel management.”
Charlotte Proth at Rosemont Monaco SAM adds that any Safety Management System, paper or digital is only as effective as its users, so training and familiarisation and a strong safety culture are key to ensuring an effective management system. She says, “With any software system there is a risk of creating a tick-box mentality so it’s important for us as a company to work with captains to create a positive safety attitude on board.”
The system also needs to be proven effective under pressure and in every circumstance points out Tobias Allebrodt at IDEA Data.
“While onboard, crew should be able to access the system totally offline in case there is no internet connection available. This implies a reliable technology for data synchronisation between the Yacht and the Management Server,” says Gregoire Hardi from Deep Blue Soft.
IMPLEMENT
The management system is best implemented during the build process or as soon as possible after purchase. Rosemont spend 2-3 days on board each vessel providing the captain and crew with familiarisation and training in the Safety Management System both from a practical and regulatory perspective. Crew also have continual access to software support.
BE SAFE
“Crew and guest general safety starts with the correct application of onboard procedures, whether or not the yacht is under mini or full ISM with a well structured Safety Management Manual in place,” says Hardi. Deep Blue procedures are organised and accessible to all crew through a central platform (Deep Blue Dash Board). All authorised crew members can access all safety procedures in real time from any device during the yacht operations with guests onboard. Crew in charge can be reminded automatically of scheduled procedures, drills, check lists, using the ISM or PMs Deep Blue module.
The SOS platform removes the time delay typically associated with non-automated systems and provides the captain and fleet manager with real-time knowledge so they can address safety concerns immediately. Digital crew and guest In/Out Boards integrate with the Muster Roll so that the captain can easily see who is on board and who needs to muster in the event of an emergency. Says Clarke, “The Total Superyacht’s data-rich environment enables the captain and manager to know which deck most accidents occur on across an entire fleet, or the average number of days it takes each vessel to complete a non-conformity report, or understand which positions exceed their HOR. So captains and managers can see what areas require attention in order to continually improve safety for crew and guests.”
Rosmont’s RYS Live system is similarly populated with several safety related forms and checklists, risk assessments and operating procedures as well as tools for monitoring planned maintenance and crew hours of rest.
