THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF NORTHEAST MARITIME INSTITUTE

Webinar on psychological safety, bullying and SASH in the maritime sector and HTW paper about PSSR

February 2, 2022

3 February 22.00 UTC
(5PM EST, 23PM CET, 4 February 09AM AEDT)

Will behavioural norms support a psychologically safe and just culture in the maritime sector?

During a live webinar on Thursday 3 February at 5PM EST Ann Till, Jillian Carson-Jackson, Jeanine Drummond, Eric R. Dawicki and Eva Lianne Veldkamp will be answering this question and talk about bullying, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault (SASH) in the maritime sector.

Will behavioural norms support a psychologically safe and just culture in the maritime sector?

In the webinar participants will discuss:

How the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced and magnified concerning trends regarding feelings of isolation, uncertainty, bullying and victimization around the world as well as within the maritime industry specifically.
Why promoting education and training on psychological safety within the maritime environment is necessary to improve participation of women in the industry.
Recognized approaches to create a psychologically safe working environment.
How extension for the delivery of Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) training will establish behavioural norms to support a psychologically safe and just culture in the maritime sector.
Why the commitment and support from everyone within the industry is essential to realize a more sustainable and equitable maritime industry.

People working within the maritime sector should be able to work safe and healthy, regardless of gender, age, cultural background or other differences. A psychological safe and inclusive maritime workplace culture for all seafarers and maritime professionals has a positive effect on operational safety and security on board. It is also essential to the successful integration of vulnerable and marginalized groups in support of diversity, equality, equity and inclusion.

As education and training are critical elements of a holistic framework of change, the Commonwealth of Dominica Maritime Administration submitted a paper to the eight session of IMO’s Sub-Committee of Human element, Training and Watchkeeping with a proposal to extend the delivery of the Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR) training from four to eight hours.

This additional time will deliver content to establish behavioural norms that supports a psychologically safe and just culture in the maritime sector.

Quantitative and qualitative research continues to identify concerning trends regarding feelings of isolation, uncertainty, bullying and victimization around the world as well as within the maritime industry specifically. The ongoing adverse impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced and magnified the ill effects on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing. Improvement of seafarers’ psychological safety, mental health and physical well-being will consequently improve onboard operational safety.

In addition, repeated issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) occur in the maritime sector, across all cultures, demographics, socio-economic groups and ages, in the same way as they do in wider society. These illegal behaviours and trends affect seafarers’ short- and long-term mental health, safety and well-being. This in turn affects recruitment and attrition rates of seafarers.

Join the livestream or watch the recording here by clicking the button below:

Participants

Anne Till

Ann Till was at sea for 12 years, obtaining her Masters COC in 2011 before coming ashore as a marine surveyor in the Middle East. She subsequently spent 7 years in a number of roles in ship management for a major offshore vessel operator, before becoming a Chief Vessel Operator.

Ann’s interest in the topic of psychological safety stems primarily from personal experiences at sea and within the wider industry. Having been directly involved as an onboard safety coach as well as leading numerous safety investigations, she believes in the importance of prioritizing efforts to ensure vessels become psychologically safe working environments.

Jeanine Drummond

Captain Jeanine Drummond, is an experienced Maritime Industry Leader, Harbour Master, and Master Mariner. She has extensive background across the maritime industry sectors, at sea, offshore oil and gas, and in the ports sector, both in governance and operations, in Australia and internationally. 

She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion on every level across the maritime industry and is currently focused on furthering maritime workplace specific education and training on DEI, speak up culture and human factors so as to enable a workplace culture that is psychologically safe and enhances operational safety.

Jillian Carson-Jackson, M.Ed, FNI, FRIN

Jillian Carson-Jackson, FNI, FRIN is an experienced maritime technical advisor, presenter and chairperson with a passion for communications technologies, education & training, and vessel tracking.

Driven by her passion for equal rights, diversity and inclusion, Ms Carson – Jackson uses her voice to advocate in support of seafarers’ wellbeing around the globe, including empowering women in maritime.

Eric R. Dawicki

Eric R. Dawicki is an internationally respected maritime expert who has demonstrated leadership and industry-wide successes in the areas of maritime transportation, safety, security, and regulatory affairs, while also leading global advancements in maritime policy, education and training, and economic development. 

Presently Mr. Dawicki serves as Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Dominica Maritime Registry, which has an international network of 28 regional offices and close to 400 vessels. As the Lead Delegate representing Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization.

In addition, Mr. Dawicki is serving as President of Northeast Maritime Institute and has developed it into the first private maritime college in the history of the United States, offering Maritime Science degrees and continuing education. This includes the development of innovative online learning simulators, training and certification platforms for mariners on a global scale (NEMO° and HALO°). NMI also serves as a direct support to entities worldwide through the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE°).

Eva Lianne Veldkamp

Serving as dual-licensed maritime officer, Eva Lianne Veldkamp started her career by crossing the many oceans of our globe on large container vessels. Presently Ms. Veldkamp serves as an IMO Policy Coordinator for the the Commonwealth of Dominica Maritime Registry, which is open international ship registry committed to serving the seafaring community as a whole through training, licensing and certification with integrity and honesty.

Representing Commonwealth of Dominica at IMO, Ms Veldkamp believes that mariners and seafarers are the real assets of our industry and will always stand tall in support of the human element.

In addition Ms. Veldkamp is connecting maritime professionals globally, in order for them to benefit from the online learning simulators, training and certification platforms NEMO° and HALO° developed by Northeast Maritime Institute.