WORDS ADRIAN PARKES
COMMENT
THE VITAL ROLE OF A TMC
Expert consultancy from a TMC ensures safety and security in the shipping industry
R
EMOTE LOCATIONS AND VOLATILE POLITICAL CLIMATES that surround many popular shipping routes can create an unpredictable environment for crews. However,
knowing that 90 per cent of the world’s trade is transported by sea means that every small aspect of marine travel must be carefully planned.
One of the many values of a TMC is to provide guidance on the right tools to manage crew safety and security, and how to deliver a best practice duty- of-care programme. Key elements of this programme include assessing risk, organisation and strategic planning. TMCs can provide expert consultancy by analysing the current situation, understanding crew travel and recommending improvements before implementation. They also support crew managers and travellers at every stage of their journey – before, during and after. For example, crew teams often travel to a wide range of locations for long periods of time. A TMC can advise crew teams on how to be vigilant and aware of the risks around them, such as general theft, weather, political and social environments. This is especially important for crew in the marine sector that is constantly moving, as they need to know they can rely on having access to reliable, global support no matter where they are.
“DUTY-OF-CARE AND TRAVEL RISK MANAGEMENT CAN
EASILY BE ENGRAINED IN AN ORGANISATION’S POLICIES AND PROCESSES WITH THE HELP OF A TMC”
Pre-trip reporting is a useful tool to create safe travel for crew members. It ensures that they are aware of any security risks and updates, and provides globally consolidated information on travel itineraries, particularly any booked to high-risk destinations or that are out of policy. This means that hazards can be mitigated and planned for accordingly. Making sure crews feel safe and taken care of brings a number of benefits. By simplifying travel and removing any hassles, crew can work in a more timely and efficient manner. More so, looking after crew members is a good way of retaining the very best staff, especially when recruitment challenges have become more significant in the marine industry in recent times.
Shipping companies branching out into new markets might find themselves sending crews to destinations where travel isn’t straightforward. So it becomes even more important to put in place simple solutions for crew members if they run into difficulty.
Duty-of-care and travel risk management may seem like daunting tasks to manage, but they can easily be engrained in an organisation’s policies and processes with the help of a TMC. A good TMC puts a duty-of-care plan together or ensures the one you have in place remains best practice, including the latest travel tools. The key to a successful programme is getting everybody on board from the start, from senior management through to crew members and ensuring clear, regular and relevant communication at every stage of their journey.
Adrian Parkes is chief executive of the GTMC, which represents travel management companies
(
gtmc.org) In association with BBT ENERGY, MARINE & MINING SUPPLEMENT 2019 15
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