Port Marine Personnel Competency Frameworks

Project overview

Our thorough understanding and experience in delivering this type of project as an improvement cycle allowed a rigorous analysis and a robust improvement road map. The road map highlighted the improvement plan, steps for implementation and control.

Assessors and Verifiers will now be equipped with validation/evidence based on a recognisable process that is derived from the analysis and implementation plan covering the four focus areas of:

• ship management;
• maritime assurance;
• terminal management;
• and marine logistics.

This approach addressed any skills dilution that existed.

Challenges faced by the client

The client was experiencing challenges with skills dilution and current job competence profiles not at optimum.

Competency profiles were not aligned to Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping  (STCW), International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), The International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) requirements.

What we did

Our scope of work was based on a three-phased approach:

Phase 1

Verify – Propose the controls that should be in place to support the improvement plan.

Define – Programme definition and descriptive problem statement.

Measure – Identify international/national or best practice standards and qualifications across the four focus areas.

Analyse – Carry out a comprehensive gap analysis and generate a report. 

Design – Develop an improvement plan along with suggested controls ready for the next phase of the programme.

Phase 2

Phase 2 was designed to provide implementation, assessment and verification of resources, as a follow on from Phase 1.

Job Competency Profiles covering approximately 40 positions across the four main shipping and marine areas were created.

Verify – Issue report to client for approval.

Define – Expand program definition and refine descriptive problem statement.

Measure – Confirm applicability of international/national or best practice standards and qualifications across the four focus areas. Provide assessment of assessor and verifier profiles.

Analyse – Carry out a gap analysis and generate report for all positions.

Design – Develop an improvement plan along with suggested controls ready for the next phase of the program.

Phase 3

The objective of Phase 3 was to hand over the entire process to the client.

Control – Ensure the designed implementation is being controlled through qualified and/or approved assessors and verifiers.

Implement – Apply designed improvements.