A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON DETERMINING THE CRITERIA (TO BE) USED IN RECRUITING OCEANGOING WATCHKEEPING OFFICERS

Abstract

It is widely accepted that one of the most important factors playing an important role in the accidents encountered in shipping is the human factor. A thorough analysis of the most likely sources of this factor in particular world reveal the unfavorable strategies adopted in recruiting and hiring seafarers: employing incompetent ones. Who are not qualified enough to successfully carry out the critical jobs remarkably affective in sustaining the required safety in oceangoing vessels. In mitigating the mistakes and risks and sustaining safety on board ships, recruiting and employing qualitative and competent watchkeeping officers is of utmost importance. The purpose of this study is to determine the criteria (to be) used in recruiting oceangoing watchkeeping officers. To do this, semi-structured interviews, one of the instruments of qualitative research method, has been conducted through the human resource managers of 12 shipowning and/or operating/management companies. As a result of having analyzed the data, 18 vocational, attitudinal/behavioral competencies have been determined, and the overall results have been discussed.