The emergence of a truly global 24/7 economy has led to a remarkable growth in container shipments, ship fleet expansion and the expansion of ports worldwide. At the same time there has been a constant drive to increase operational efficiency through automation and reduced manning on vessels and on the dock.
In this environment, watch standing schedules, flexible work hours in ports and uncertain arrival schedules create special challenges for maintaining the performance, safety and morale of the workforce.
Challenges
- Balancing labor against variable workload The unpredictable arrival time of vessels, the redirection of traffic depending on market prices and the complications of weather make workforce planning and optimization critical in port operations.
- Fatigue risk management Fatigue at sea is as old as the maritime industry, and is a leading cause of collisions, injuries and claims. The IMO, MARAD and other maritime organizations have raised the level of attention to fatigue risk, but shipping companies and port managers need practical effective tools to address these inherent problems of 24/7 operations.
- Law suits and arbitrations. The courts have seen a surge of claims by maritime employees claiming that watch schedules and work hours were the cause of injuries and ill-health.
How CIRCADIAN can help you
For 25 years CIRCADIAN has helped the maritime industry meet the challenges of 24/7 operations. We provide: