by Captain Michael Fragkias*
Shipping is one of the most important pillars of global trade, as more than 80% of international commerce is transported by sea. The efficient operation of ships, the protection of personnel, navigational safety, and the preservation of the marine environment depend to a great extent on the level of professionalism of those working both on board vessels and in the offices of shipping companies.
Professional excellence is one of the most significant concepts in modern organizational and business management. It refers not merely to performing a task well, but to the continuous pursuit of improvement, high performance, quality, accountability, and innovation. In an industry such as merchant shipping, which is characterized by a high degree of complexity, intense international competition, a stringent regulatory framework, and demanding safety requirements, professional excellence is a fundamental prerequisite for the success and sustainability of shipping companies.
To achieve excellence, technical competencies (hard skills) alone are not sufficient. The parallel development of employees’ interpersonal and behavioral competencies (soft skills) is considered essential.
Professional competence is the ability to perform a defined task satisfactorily. It refers to an employee’s overall capability to carry out their professional role effectively, in accordance with established procedures and applicable standards.
Professional competency is the combination of technical and personal skills, knowledge, experience, and behavior. A skill is the outcome of an applied ability. An ability is the capacity to perform a mental or physical process effectively. Effectiveness means doing the right things, whereas efficiency means doing things right.
Professional competence is demonstrated in practice and is assessed through an individual’s overall performance in real or complex workplace situations.
Professional competencies refer to the specific, distinct elements that together constitute professional excellence. These elements include individual areas of knowledge, skills, behaviors, or personal attributes that can be observed and assessed independently. For example, effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and stress and time management are all distinct personal competencies.
The key difference between the two concepts is that competence represents the overall outcome of an individual’s professional and technical development, the integrated ability to perform effectively in the workplace, whereas competencies are the individual building blocks that contribute to the achievement of that overall competence.
A professional may possess a wide range of individual job-related competencies without necessarily demonstrating a high level of overall professional competence, particularly when they struggle to integrate these competencies effectively within complex and constantly evolving work environments such as those found in the maritime industry.
Competency refers to a combination of behaviors, skills, and personal attitudes that enable individuals to perform assigned tasks effectively and satisfactorily.
In the maritime sector, where safety procedures are paramount, professional conduct encompasses a range of complementary and at times seemingly conflicting qualities that contribute to operational effectiveness and overall success.
Professional excellence may also be defined as the systematic and continuous pursuit of the highest possible level of performance across all aspects of one’s professional activities. It involves not only technical competence but also the development of leadership, teamwork, accountability, ethical conduct, and adaptability.
Excellence is not a final destination but an ongoing process of continuous improvement. A professional committed to excellence is not satisfied with merely meeting the minimum requirements of the position but continually strives to exceed established standards by seeking new ways to enhance performance and effectiveness.
Key characteristics of professional excellence include: a high level of technical knowledge and expertise, commitment to quality, continuous learning and personal skills development, responsibility and accountability, ethical professional conduct, innovation, creativity, effective collaboration, and the ability to adapt to technological and organizational changes.
Professional excellence is closely linked to organizational structure, as the success of an organization depends on the performance of its people at every level, without exception.
The merchant shipping industry operates in a particularly demanding environment. Ships sail across the world’s oceans under varying weather conditions, with multinational crews, and in compliance with international regulations. Within this context, professional excellence is essential for:
Employees who are guided by professional behaviors such as adaptability and problem-solving skills are able to handle unexpected challenges. They demonstrate resilience in adversity and use innovative solutions to manage issues that arise during the course of the day, thereby ensuring smooth and uninterrupted (flawless) operations.
Positive professional behaviors, combined with effective leadership, emotional intelligence, and positive thinking, contribute to better ship management with diverse crews and to making critical decisions in emergency situations.
Technological developments, including artificial intelligence and automation, are influencing the sector and increasing the demand for corresponding professional training and behavior. While technical skill remains fundamental, the ability to adapt to technological advances enhances professional conduct among maritime workers.
Professional behavior plays a vital role in the maritime industry, affecting safety, performance efficiency, customer relations, and overall operational functioning. By recognizing the importance of these competencies and investing in their development, companies can cultivate a workforce capable of handling complex situations, while ensuring sustainability and resilience in an ever-changing world and industry.
In an integrated competency system, there are three key levels: Environment – People – Behavior. To achieve professional excellence, the behavioral component is essential and highly significant.
Here we can ask ourselves what the concept of “BEHAVIOR” is?
Behavior is the set of actions of a person that is observed by others. According to this, human behavior is observable, measurable, and therefore can be managed and improved.
Consequences are directly linked to behaviors.
Behavior as a parameter of competencies includes: attitudes (beliefs), knowledge, skills (hard & soft), and safety culture.
Human attitude (what a person believes) can be influenced through positive behavioral change. Attitudes may relate to whether we like something or not, as well as to an individual’s mental state. Changing a person’s attitude can positively change their behavior.
Culture in general consists of attitudes, moral values, and perceptions. The development of a safety culture is very important in shipping as well as in any organization. Safety culture is the way or method by which safety is managed in the workplace. It reflects overall the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and values that employees have.
Despite the significant benefits, the implementation of professional excellence in shipping faces several difficulties and challenges. Different languages, cultures, and ways of working can create collaboration difficulties. Addressing this requires intercultural training, common communication standards, and respect for diversity.
In addition, shipping is entering the era of digitalization through artificial intelligence, automation, big data, and smart ships. Adapting to these technologies requires new skills and continuous learning.
To achieve true professional excellence, shipping companies can or are recommended to implement the following strategies:
Professional excellence is a fundamental prerequisite for the sustainable development of commercial shipping in the 21st century. It does not concern only technical knowledge or operational efficiency, but rather a comprehensive philosophy that combines safety, leadership, ethics, continuous learning, innovation, and respect for the environment.
The application of professional excellence on ships and in shipping companies contributes to the creation of a safer, more efficient, and more competitive maritime sector. Through continuous training, the strengthening of a safety culture, the utilization of new technologies, and the promotion of responsible leadership, maritime workers can respond effectively to the challenges of the future.
Despite the challenges created by technological progress, environmental requirements, and the multicultural nature of crews, professional excellence remains the most effective path to ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of modern shipping.
Professional excellence is a continuous journey of adaptation and improvement. Just as a ship is constantly altering its course in order to safely reach its destination, so too must maritime organizations continually strive for higher standards of performance.
*Captain Michalis Fragkiasex DPA at Sun Enterprises Limited
