A marine engineer is one of the most critical personnel on a ship, responsible for overseeing the main engine, air compressors, and other auxiliary devices of the main engine. Without competent marine engineers, any vessel is quickly destined for rapid wear of the engine and other auxiliary equipment. And to avoid this, a course was created for marine engineers that is Engine Room Resource Management.

Engine Room Resource Management, and why is it important for marine engineers? According to research conducted by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) report – human factors account for a staggering 80% of all accidents. This suggests that the problem often lies not in the technical aspects but in the people themselves. Therefore, it’s essential to work on self-improvement.

Key Objectives of Engine Room Resource Management:

  1. Reducing the risk of maritime accidents due to human error.
  2. Increasing the vessel’s uptime – This means ensuring that the ship operates independently most of the time, with engineers intervening only when necessary.
  3. Utilizing redundancy – This includes the ability to correctly configure backup systems so that, in the event of a primary system failure, the vessel continues to operate as usual.

These objectives align with the STCW Code (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers). Since 1978, this organization has introduced the first regulations, and today, the STCW Code is one of the fundamental codes for seafarers.

Engine Room Resource Management Course: 

This course covers five key skill areas for engineers:

  1. Effective Communication Effective communication means that all team members must consistently communicate with each other about work-related matters. For example, the chief engineer might be waiting for a report on the steering engine from a junior engineer for three days, while the junior engineer is preoccupied with concerns about the ship’s fresh water. If these thoughts are not voiced, it can lead to negative consequences.
  2. Leadership and Assertiveness These characteristics emphasize the need for a leader with sufficient competence and a firm, confident demeanor who can clearly assign tasks and persistently explain the reasons for carrying out those tasks.
  3. Resource Allocation, Assignment, and Prioritization This aspect ensures that engineers correctly prioritize tasks and execute them from the most critical to the least important. For example: Tasks need to be prioritized to avoid significant issues, even if some less critical tasks are not completed.
    • Stopping the generator and preparing it for standby.
    • Checking and replacing the oil purifier.
    • Replacing the exhaust valve.
  4. Situational Awareness This aspect involves being proactive in emergency situations, such as environmental pollution or worse, like an explosion in the engine room. It provides the ability to act proactively to prevent dangerous incidents.
  5. Consideration of Team Experience This aspect focuses on ensuring that tasks and shifts are assigned according to the engineer’s level of competence, so that if necessary, a more experienced specialist is nearby to help and prevent serious errors.

Conclusion

To sum up, we state that a marine engineer deserves respect and admiration for this post given the risks within the engine room of a ship. The significance of Engine Room Resource Management (ERRM) cannot be belittled, as it helps in developing fundamental competencies that are essential for the accurate and timely performance of high-stakes tasks. Thus, as communication, leadership, resource management, awareness of the situation and team’s experience are the aspects that are addressed with the help of ERRM training as they are the frequently contributing causes of the maritime accidents.

Also, as it has been pointed out to us by NTSB, as much as 80% of ships accidents are attributable to human error, hence the need to sovle these problems. Also, the ERRM course is structured based on the appropriate STCW Codes and therefore addresses these issues in a way that assures engineers will not only be technically skilled but also be able to make decisions promptly and appropriately that will aid in the efficient and safe operation of the vessel.

Ultimately, the investment in ERRM training pays back during normal operations of sea going vessels. It allows engineers to perform at the necessary levels and avoid the chances of making mistakes and guarantee that vessels are functional, even when the circumstances are tough. With more and more emphasis being placed on learning from the mistakes, the culture of ERRM augments the capabilities of marine engineers and protects the crew and the vessel.