A Third of Seafarers Are Burdened by Admin Tasks, Survey Finds
Seafarers feel they spend too much time on tasks they consider to be an administrative burden according to the findings of a study by the Danish Maritime Authority, supported by InterManager, the international trade association for ship and crew managers.
A comprehensive survey of international seafarers revealed that a third of all nationalities are annoyed or frustrated by administrative burdens in the maritime sector. These burdens stem from what the seafarers consider to be unnecessary repetition of tasks and demands for too much paperwork and documentation to be handled.
The study also concludes that there is a “significant potential to relocate time to more fruitful tasks” to increase efficiency and quality.
The study, which surveyed almost 2,000 anonymous seafarers from 59 different nationalities, asked 55 questions to understand the characteristics and perceptions of administrative burden and the different types of work-related activities perceived as administrative burdens among seafarers.
The survey concentrated on seven main areas of work: preparation of and participation in Port State Control, Flag State Control or Class inspections; vetting inspections; handling of International Vessel and Port Facility Security requirements (including paperwork and mandatory deck watch duties); planning and executing exercises and drills; using and maintaining internal management systems (QSM, ISM etc); completion of journals (garbage, oil, deviation etc); and the completion of port and pre-arrival documents (such as crew and passenger lists, vessel stores, port calls, health declarations etc).
At least 50% of those responding – and sometimes as many as 79% – felt the tasks were repeated too often and required too much documentation and paperwork. The report concluded that “a lot of paperwork and documentation that is being produced on the job contributes little value to the work of the seafarers”.
Port and pre-arrival documentation proved particularly problematic with many seafarers feeling a lot of the paperwork was superfluous. The report advised: “The qualitative comments from the seafarers give the general impression that the amount of necessary paperwork has exploded in recent years and in some cases taken time away from more urgent and meaningful tasks in terms of guaranteeing ship safety. Seafarers suggest easing the rigid control slightly and instead putting more focus on culture and competencies in order to effectively and meaningfully improve efficiency and safety on vessels.”
The report states that “many seafarers are frustrated because they feel that the time usages are disproportionate to the gains of many of the tasks” and advises there is “a large potential to rationalise and/or digitalise at least some of the processes”.
In addition, the report underlines the fact that “seafarers and shipowners” understand the rationale underlying most procedures and requirements even though these may lead to administrative burdens. They acknowledge that such procedures are not implemented with the aim of being a burden but that they in principle serve higher-end objectives like personal safety and environmental protection.
It points out there is scope for developing “work smart, easy-to-use” digital solutions to reduce paperwork and time consuming manual workflows, particularly in relation to port and pre-arrival procedures. In addition the report recommends a revived focus on seamanship and safety culture with a view to reducing the number of procedures and burdens and advises of a potential for increased co-operation and dialogue between stakeholders in all areas of the maritime sector.
InterManager Secretary General, Captain Kuba Szymanski, said: “InterManager members and their crews were happy to take part in this important survey. The amount of time seafarers report they are spending on administrative tasks is eye-opening and we welcome the report’s suggestion for further investigation into how these requirements can be better complied with to enable smarter working.”
（译文参考）
调查发现三分之一海员背负行政负担
丹麦海事局的一项研究发现，海员觉得他们花费太多时间在他们所认为的行政负担上。该研究获得了船舶和船员管理者国际工会——InterManager的支持。
一项针对全球海员的全面调查显示，各国海员中有三分之一的人对海事领域中的行政负担感到烦恼或沮丧。这些负担源于海员认为是不必要的重复任务和要求，它们往往需要太多的书文书工作和文档处理。
该研究还得出结论认为，有“很大的可能性可以把时间用在更富成效的任务”，以提高工作效率和质量。
这项研究调查了近2000名来自59个不同国家的匿名海员，向他们问了55个问题以理解他们的性格特点，以及他们对行政负担和不同类型工作的行政负担的看法。
调查集中在七个主要领域：准备和参与港口国控制、船旗国控制或船级检查；审核检查；处理国际船舶和港口设施安保要求（包括文书工作和强制性甲板值班职责）；规划和执行演习和演练；使用和维护内部管理系统（QSM，ISM等），填写记录簿（垃圾、石油、偏差等），及完成港口和抵港前报告（如海员和乘客名单、船舶储存，停靠港，健康声明等）。
至少有50％的受访者（有时多达79％）认为行政任务太经常重复且须要太多的文件和文书工作。 该报告认为“工作中的大量文书和文件对海员工作价值甚微”。
港口和抵港前文档问题尤其严重，很多海员感觉很多文书工作是多余的。该报告建议：“海员定性评价给的人的大致印象是，必要文书工作的数量近年来呈爆炸性增长的趋势，在某些情况下占用了用于保证船舶安全的更紧迫和更有意义的任务。海员建议稍微缓解了刚性控制，将更多的精力集中在文化和能力上，从而有效且有意义地提高船舶效率和安全。”
该报告指出，“许多海员感到十分沮丧，因为他们觉得时间用在许多收益和付出不成比例的任务上”，因此认为“至少合理化和/或数字化一些程序的潜力巨大”。
此外，报告还强调了一个事实，即“海员和船东”对大多数程序和要求，甚至是可能会导致行政负担的任务的基本原理表示理解。他们承认，实施这些程序的目的并不在于成为负担，但它们在原则上是出于更为高水平的目标，如人员安全和环境保护。
报告指出，“工作灵巧，易于使用”的数字化解决方案是很有发展空间的，它们可以减少文书工作和耗时的手动工作流程，特别是和港口及抵达前事宜相关的程序。报告建议，通过减少程序和负担的数量，重新关注航海技术和安全文化。此外，报告还表示，海事各领域的利益相关者之间合作和对话的增长潜力巨大。
InterManager秘书长Kuba Szymanski船长说：“InterManager成员和他们的海员都很乐意参加这个重要的调查。据海员报告，他们花费在行政任务上的时间是令人瞠目结舌的，我们欢迎这份报告对进一步调查如何可以更好遵守这些需求以使工作更智能的建议。”
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