PALAWAN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, INC.

Manalo Extension, Barangay Milagrosa

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
TeleFax: 048-434-2393
Basic Education Department

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

MODULE: 12 & 13
INTRODUCTION TO MARITIME
SAFETY
 Value of Teamwork and Social Responsibility

WHAT IS TEAMWORK?
Although there might be a lot of meaning for the word teamwork, depending on the
context and the field it is used-sports, business, learning, etc., there are three common words that
describe it in general. The three words are: group, work, and goal. These are the common
components that make teamwork.
If we put it in a more fluid delivery, teamwork is a process where a group of people work
together to achieve a common goal.

Importance of Teamwork
Teamwork in the workplace offers the organization to become more familiar with each
other, thereby fostering understanding and learning (Root, 2017). When working in an
environment like on board ships, teamwork is important especially as all its crew members have
not work together that long. There are several ways in which teamwork is important and vital to
the success of the company and to the development of each employee. Understanding those
important elements will assist in developing company policies geared toward encouraging team
growth in the workplace.

ADVANTAGES OF TEAM WORK

Here are just some of the benefits and advantages of having teamwork in an organization.

Roles and Responsibility

One of the benefits of teamwork is that each member knows and understands the strength
and weaknesses of each member. This makes the leaders and members proficient at dividing and
delegating tasks that enables a more successful work outcome.
On board roles and responsibilities are very distinct. A management level personnel like
the captain or the first engineer has specific roles different from an able seaman or a chief cook.
This distinction creates an efficient way of working where everybody knows who the expert on a
specific field is and whom they should call when machinery breaks or a safety equipment
malfunctions. Even on emergency cases, the roles are very much laid out to avoid confusion and
efficiently execute control measures.
It seems that roles and responsibilities are effectively laid out on board. However; the
ship is a very diverse environment. There are times when new situations or unanticipated events
happen, and this is where teamwork is put to the test. An effective team will find themselves
having better control of the situation as everybody has knowledge and understanding on who the
best personnel to handle the different functions to accomplish the job is.
Support
There are challenges on board that will call for teamwork. Even in simple work process
on board like painting or cleaning, teamwork is required especially if collaboration is needed. It
might seem that working alone is not teamwork. However, teamwork starts when you begin to
include another person in your work process by simply participating in a work meeting,
communicating your work progress, or asking for assistance. In a way, all of the mentioned
actions are ways of giving or accepting support
Support is inherent to teamwork. The whole concept of teamwork hinges on having
people support each other to reach a common goal. Working together could compliment work
skills that might not be effective when done alone. Teammates become more confident and
trusting because everyone knows that there is a safety net to fall into. Support also encourages
learning and coaching that are essential to establish a uniform level of competency among the
members.

Trust
Trust is something that is hard to come by especially when you are working in an
environment where people do not stay that long for each other to build a strong relationship. You
work with people with very diverse views and backgrounds which make it is hard to built
relevance. Prejudice and stereotyping sometimes get in the way. You are thrust into an
environment where you might find trusting somebody is the last thing you have to do. However,
on board environment is also a place of many challenges and pressure, and most of the time, the
unfortunate state of the environment becomes a strong adversary that trusting somebody
becomes more of a necessity and less of a choice.
Trust is a very important component of teamwork. When you put your trust in a
teammate, you are establishing the foundation of a relationship that can tolerate small conflicts
and arguments. Little by little, you build an unspoken understanding and respect for each other.
Subordinates become open and communicative to their superiors even on sensitive issues while
leaders learn to listen to and empathize with the team.
Without trust, a team crumbles and cannot succeed no matter how skilful, talented,
experienced, and smart the members are. Great teams build each other up and strengthen
individual members to create a cohesive group. By working together, employees learn that wins
and losses affect everyone in the team. Teamwork necessitates confidence in each other's distinct
abilities.

Efficiency
A good teamwork enables the effective use of resources. When a task is done by a well-
trained and organized team, the pacing becomes fast, the results are accurate, and the output
increases without compromising the safety of the working crew.
On board, where efficiency is a vital component to address both the planned and
unplanned work, it is important that time is managed effectively. Because of the constantly
changing work environment, a lot of unexpected and emergency work might pop out anytime. A
fuel line starting to leak and appearance of uncharted shallow water or a small fire developing in
the galley are just some of these unexpected emergencies. Tackling these unexpected works will
affect the planned work program on board and ultimately overwork the crew.
An efficient team plans ahead and anticipates such work delays, making it easy to tackle
and address the problem effectively without losing momentum and without compromising the
health and well-being of the crew.

Learning and Creativity

Teamwork also enables learning and creativity. Team members often meet and discuss important
work and safety issues. This enables learning and collaboration especially if you have highly
different members on board in terms of age, experience, culture, and nationality.
On board, learning plays a very important role to speed up the learning process of
inexperienced crew; Of course, seafarers go on extensive schooling and training before going on
board. However, this is substantially not enough to make them prepared for the demanding job
on board. Teamwork fills the needed integration of this new crew to train them not only about
work but also the emotional and mental adjustments one must do to survive on board. Most of
the shipping companies nowadays have programs for effective integration for first timers.
Cadetship programs are offered to deserving maritime students. The program does not only offer
job opportunity but also provide the chance for these neophytes to be integrated to the work and
culture on board as early as possible.
To make the new crew acquainted with the life on board, shipping companies send these
cadets on board as trainees, enabling them to experience and observe first-hand what seafaring is
all about without the pressure of an actual responsibility. They are assigned to different
departments and supervisors to maximize the learning process.
For those who are eligible for promotion, an overlapping procedure is done. Overlapping
happens when there are two similar ranks to fill the role on board. For example, two chief
officers are employed and share the same responsibility on board. One of them, the more
experienced, takes the role of the teacher while the one for promotion takes the role of the
trainee. This again fosters hands-on approach that is important to ensure effective transfer of
learning.
Creativity, on the other hand, is simply inherent when the team collaborates. Finding new
and better ways is very important to address the unexpected situations on board. As reiterated,
two heads are better than one. Solving a problem or a solution will always be difficult if you
solve it yourself simply because you might not have the experience, skill, insight, or wisdom.
What you have learned or experienced is entirely different from your teammates. Teamwork
maximizes shared learning and experience, creating new solutions that a single mind will not be
able to put together.
Resolving Conflict
Conflicts are unavoidable, especially in a very diverse group within a dynamic
environment like the ship. The team on board comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and
beliefs, creating diverse work styles, habits, and approaches. It is natural that these differences
will create friction of ideas.
However, conflict is a healthy process when handled correctly. Conflict breeds unique
ideas, self-confidence, and openness among the team members. This is called positive conflict.
Positive conflict often happens when conflict is in the early stage known as the argument stage.
In this stage, a team member persuades or presents a reason for accepting a conclusion to the
other members and vice versa. The focus of three conflicts here is about ideas, concepts, or best
practices. When conflict stays at this stage, it becomes a healthy practice of sharing and
accepting.
Conflict becomes negative if the situation escalates beyond the argument stage, and the
opposing members begin to personalize and become subjective rather than objective. The point
of the argument will move from ideas and will start to focus on the person, his or her limitations,
disadvantages, and his or her personal life. This is when negative conflict happens.
Resolving conflict enables the team to be courageous and independent. It is also a great
exercise for motivating and encouraging people within the group to be fair and be a sport.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to an idea that businesses should balance
their profit by sharing it for the benefit of the society. It involves projects and programs that
impact the society positively and create good relationship between the business and the
community in which they operate.
Companies often align their social responsibility to the services and products they offer.
For example, a chemical factory will advocate for the protection of the environment, or a popular
food chain will endorse feeding programs.
It means that companies that gain profit from the society have a duty to act in the best
interests of society as a whole. This creates good reputation for the institution. Although this
setup should be applauded, the truth is, the intention does not reflect the true value of social
responsibility. Some institutions see this as a business requirement rather than a conscious and
genuine effort to contribute on the welfare of the society.

Social responsibility becomes more effective and genuine when a company views the concept as
a voluntary approach, as opposed to being a requirement from governments and as an investment
itself.
 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION
Rosa Chua, a professor of business ethics and corporate social responsibility at UCD
Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, wrote an article in Harvard Business Review titled
"What Aristotle Can Teach Firms About CSR" that quotes the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), emphasizing that the relationship to the society and environment in which
businesses operate is "a critical factor in their ability to continue to operate effectively. It is also
increasingly being used as a measure of their overall performance.”
In 2010, the ISO published an international standard to guide organizations assess and
address their social responsibilities. "ISO 26000: Guidance on Social Responsibility" defines
social responsibility as:
The responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on
society and the environment, through transparency and ethical behavior that:
 Contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society;
 Takes into account the expectations of stakeholders;
 Is in compliance with applicable laws and consistent with international norms of
behavior; and
 Is integrated throughout the organization and practiced in its relationships."

Core Social Responsibility

ISO 26000: Guidance on Social Responsibility underlines seven core social responsibility
subjects:
1. Organizational governance
2. Human rights
3 Labor practices
4. Environment
5. Fair operating practices
6 Consumer issues
7. Community involvement and development

Key Principles
In addition to the core subjects, IS0 26000 also integrates these seven key principles of
socially responsible behavior:
1. Accountability
2. Transparency
3. Ethical behavior
4. Respect for stakeholder interest
5. Respect for the rule of law
6. Respect for international norms of behavior
7. Respect for human rights

Individual Social Responsibility

Although, ISO's guidelines and principles are a good template for an effective and
purposeful social responsibility program for companies and businesses, the true virtue lies not on
what the company or business believes but on what its individual employee is convinced by. The
collective standpoint of the employee on the advocate will reflect the company as a whole. In
addition, social responsibility has the potential to create a purpose-driven company if the
advocate is not only observed by those in authority but most importantly by its employees.
This is the same concept the maritime industry aims for-for people to be invested with the
social responsibility on board especially as the maritime community has a long-standing
advocacy on safety of life and the protection of the environment comes first before profit.
This concept of social responsibility is in line with the widely used triple bottom line
approach, also referred to as people, planet, and profit. This is the concept that attaining profit
does not need to cause harm to the environment or the endangerment of people. This also means
that the safety of the people and the protection of the environment come first before the business.

Social Responsibility in the Maritime Industry

Social responsibility in the maritime society is learned the hard way. Throughout history,
devastating maritime accidents have taught us humans the importance of social responsibility.
Nowadays, the maritime community process, through the leadership of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), ensures that social responsibility toward safe working process and
environmental protection is sound and visible through implementation of various international
conventions and regulations
Social responsibility is a way of achieving sustainability. Adopting humanitarian and pro-
environmental principles on board and within the company creates a consciousness of urgency
to be proactive on an given situation on board.
 RMS Titanic
The sinking of RMS Titanic in 1912, the biggest commercial vessel at that period, is a
turning point in the maritime industry. Many questioned the reliability and safety of ships as the
main mass transport on the water. Investigation shows that only around 700 people survived and
over 1,500 people died, proclaiming the accident as one of the most disastrous accidents at sea.
With this, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) was created,
underlining safety issues on board the vessel. SOLAS becomes the most important of
international treaties concerning safety of merchant vessels. It also extends its social
responsibility efforts later on to protect the environment.
According to the International Maritime Organization, "the main objective of the SOLAS
Convention is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of
ships, compatible with their safety"
Specifically, SOLAS underlines several guidelines in making sure that the people on
board will be provided with utmost safety. With it sprung several conventions like the
International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, International Safety Management
(ISM) Code, International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and International Life-
saving Appliance (LSA) Code, among others. The following text is taken from IMO's Web page
underlining the different chapters in the convention.
The succeeding topics are some of the regulations and conventions that support social
responsibility

Chapter I - General provisions

The chapter includes regulations concerning the survey of the various types of ships and
the issuance of documents signifying that the ship meets the requirements of the convention. The
chapter also includes provisions for the control of ships in ports of other contracting
governments.
Chapter II-1 - Construction - Subdivision and stability, machinery, and electrical
installations
The subdivision of passenger ships into watertight compartments must be such that after
assumed damage to the ship's hull the vessel will remain afloat and stable. Requirements for
watertight integrity and bilge pumping arrangements for passenger ships are also laid down as
well as stability requirements for both passenger and cargo ships.
The degree of subdivision, measured by the maximum permissible distance between two
adjacent bulkheads, varies with ship's length and the service in which it is engaged. The highest
degree of subdivision applies to passenger ships.
Requirements covering machinery and electrical installations are designed to ensure that
services that are essential for the safety of the ship, passengers, and crew are maintained under
various emergency conditions.
Goal-based standards for oil tankers and bulk carriers were adopted in 2010, requiring
new ships to be designed and constructed for a specified design life and to be safe and
environmentally friendly, in intact and specified damage conditions, throughout their life. Under
the regulation, ships should have adequate strength, integrity, and stability to minimize the risk
of loss of the ship or pollution to the marine environment due to structural failure, including
collapse, resulting in flooding or loss of watertight integrity.

Chapter II-2 - Fire protection, fire detection, and fire extinction

The chapter includes detailed fire safety provisions for all ships and specific measures for
passenger ships, cargo ships, and tankers,
They include the following principles: division of the ship into main and vertical zones
by thermal and structural boundaries, separation of accommodation spaces from the remainder of
the ship by thermal and structural boundaries, restricted use of combustible materials, detection
of any fire in the zone of origin, containment and extinction of any fire in the space of origin,
protection of the means of escape or of access for fire fighting purposes, ready availability of fire
extinguishing appliances, and minimization of the possibility of ignition of flammable cargo
vapor.

Chapter III - Lifesaving appliances and arrangements

The chapter includes requirements for lifesaving appliances and arrangements, including
requirements for lifeboats, rescue boats, and life jackets according to type of ship. 'The LSA
Code gives specific technical requirements for LSAs and is mandatory under Regulation 34,
which states that all lifesaving appliances and arrangements shall comply with the applicable
requirements of the LSA Code.
Chapter IV- Radiocommunications
The chapter incorporates the GMDSS. All passenger ships and all cargo ships of 300
gross tonnage and upward on international voyages are required to carry equipment designed to
improve the chances of rescue following an accident, including satellite emergency position
indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and search and rescue transponders (SARTS) for the location
of the ship or survival craft.
Regulations in Chapter IV cover undertakings by contracting governments to provide
radiocommunication services as well as ship requirements for carriage of radiocommunications
equipment. The chapter is closely linked to the Radio Regulations of the International
Telecommunication Union

Chapter V- Safety of navigation

Chapter V identifies certain navigation safety services that should be provided by
contracting governments and sets forth provisions of an operational nature applicable in general
to all ships on all voyages. This is in contrast to the convention as a whole, which only applies to
certain classes of ship engaged on international voyages.
The subjects covered include the maintenance of meteorological services for ships, the
ice patrol service, routing of ships, and the maintenance of search and rescue services.
This chapter also includes a general obligation for masters to proceed to the assistance of
those in distress and for contracting governments to ensure that all ships shall be sufficiently and
efficiently operated from a safety point of view. The chapter makes mandatory the carriage of
voyage data recorders (VDRs) and automatic ship identification systems (AIS),

Chapter VI - Carriage of cargoes

The chapter covers all types of cargo (except liquids and gases in bulk) "which, owing to
their particular hazards to ships or persons on board, may require special precautions'. The
regulations include requirements for stowage and securing of cargo or cargo units (such as
containers). The chapter requires cargo ships carrying grain to comply with the International
Grain Code.

Chapter VII - Carriage of dangerous goods

The regulations are contained in four parts:
Part A. Carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form – includes provisions for the
classification, packing, marking, labelling and placarding, documentation, and stowage of
dangerous goods. Contracting governments are required to issue instructions at the national level
and the chapter makes mandatory the IMDG Code developed by IMO, which is constantly
updated to accommodate new dangerous goods and supplement or revise existing provisions.
 Part A-1 - Carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk - covers the documentation,
stowage, and segregation requirements for these goods and requires reporting of incidents
involving such goods.
Part B covers construction and equipment of ships carrying dangerous liquid chemicals
in bulk and requires chemical tankers to comply with the International Bulk Chemical (IBC)
Code.
Part C covers construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk and
gas carriers to comply with the requirements of the International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code.
Part D includes special requirements for the carriage of packaged irradiated nuclear fuel,
plutonium, and high-level radioactive wastes on board ships and requires ships carrying such
products to comply with the international Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated
Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium, and High-level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships (INF Code).
The chapter requires carriage of dangerous goods to be in compliance with the relevant
provisions of the IMDG Code.

Chapter VIII - Nuclear ships

The chapter gives basic requirements for nuclear-powered ships and is particularly
concerned with radiation hazards. It refers to detailed and comprehensive Code of Safety for
Nuclear Merchant Ships that was adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1981.

Chapter IX - Management for the Safe Operation of Ships

The chapter makes mandatory the ISM Code, which requires a safety management
system to be established by the ship owner, the company, or any person who has assumed
responsibility for the ship.

Chapter X - Safety measures for high-speed craft

The chapter makes mandatory the International Code of Safety for High- speed Craft
(HSC Code).

Chapter XI-1 - Special measures to enhance maritime safety

The chapter clarifies requirements relating to authorization of recognized organizations
(responsible for carrying out surveys and inspections on administrations' behalves), enhanced
surveys, ship identification number scheme, and port state control on operational requirements.
Chapter XI-2 - Special measures to enhance maritime security
Regulation XI-2/3 of the chapter enshrines the International Ship and Port Facilities
Security (1SPS) Code. Part A of the code is mandatory, and part B contains guidance as to how
best to comply with the mandatory requirements. Regulation Xl-2/8 confirms the role of the
master in exercising his professional judgment over decisions necessary to maintain the security
of the ship. It says he shall not be constrained by the company, the charterer or any other person
in this respect.
Regulation XI-2/5 requires all ships to be provided with a ship security alert system.
Regulation XI-2/6 covers requirements for port facilities, providing, among other things, for
contracting governments to ensure that port facility security assessments are carried out and that
port facility security plans are developed, implemented, and reviewed in accordance with the
ISPS Code. Other regulations in this chapter cover the provision of information to IMO, the
control of ships in port (including measures such as the delay detention, restriction of operations
including movement within the port, or expulsion of a ship from port), and the specific
responsibility of companies.

Chapter XII - Additional safety measures for bulk carriers

The chapter includes structural requirements for bulk carriers over 150 meters in length.

Chapter XIII - Verification of compliance

The chapter makes mandatory from January 1, 2016 the IMO Member State Audit
Scheme.

Chapter XIV - Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters

The chapter makes mandatory from January 1, 2017 the introduction and part I-A of the
International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar
Code).
Assessment
Fill out the table with the benefits of teamwork or SOLAS chapter number described in
each item.

Answer Description
1. The chapter makes mandatory the ISM Code, which requires a safety
management system to be established by the ship owner, company, or any
person who has assumed responsibility for the ship.
2. It might seem that working alone is not teamwork. However, teamwork
starts when you begin to include another person in your work process by
simply participating in a work meeting, communicating your work
progress, or asking for assistance.
3. A good teamwork enables the effective use of resources. When a task is
done by a well-trained and organized team, the pacing becomes fast, the
results are accurate, and the output increases Without compromising the
safety of the working crew.
4. The LSA Code gives specific technical requirements for LSAs and is
mandatory under Regulation 34, which states that all lifesaving
appliances and arrangements shall comply with the applicable
requirements of the LSA Code.
5. It enables the team to be courageous and independent. It is also a great
exercise for motivating and encouraging people within the group to be
fair and be a sports.
6. Regulation X1-2/3 of the chapter enshrines the International Ship and
Port Facilities security (ISPS) Code. Part A of the code is mandatory, and
part B contains guidance as to how best to comply With the mandatory
requirements.
7. The subjects covered include the maintenance of meteorological services
for ships, the ice patrol service routeing of ships, and the maintenance of
search and rescue services.
8. One of the benefits of teamwork is that each member knows and
understands the strength and weaknesses of each member. This makes the
leaders and members proficient at dividing and delegating tasks which
enables a more successful work outcome.
9. Teamwork fills the needed integration of this new crew to train them not
only about work but also the emotional and mental adjustments one must
do to survive on board.
10. Contracting governments are required to issue instructions at the national
level and the chapter makes mandatory the IMDG Code developed by
IMO, which is constantly updated to accommodate new dangerous goods
and to supplement or revise existing provisions.