On cross cultural communication in a mixed crew

• Igor Olegovich Smirnov ^[1] ; Alexey Ivanovich Kondratiev ^[1]
  1. [1] Admiral Ushakov Maritime State University
• Localización: Maritime Transport'16 / coord. por Francisco Javier Martínez de Osés, Marcella Castells Sanabra, 2016, ISBN 978-84-9880-591-8, págs. 149-156
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The article is dedicated to some issues of cultural diversities which are available now in mixed crews. The new perspectives to overcome the difficulties of work in a mixed crew are offered. Nowadays all people working in the shipping business face the new challenge that is the globalization of the whole marine and shipping industry. People from various countries and of completely different cultures, work together in the same crew, on the same vessel. To gain optimum working synergism on board, it is necessary to realize the differences in values, beliefs as well as the practical issues such as language, religion and diet. The rules and standards of one culture are completely different from the rules of another culture. The objective of the paper is to create a strategy important for every seaman, especially for an officer to build an efficient cross-cultural crew. There may occur some critical moments or incidents aboard a vessel when feelings of discomfort can arise as seamen face the realities of confronting issues of diversity. So, sensitivities and understanding on the part of the officers can turn these into breakthroughs. Differences should be understood by all and acknowledged and respected, before any effective work relationships can be established. Training in cross-cultural awareness is common in many multinational companies and national companies, for example, Novoship, Russia. Such training plays a valuable role not only in building better teams, but also in creating more enriching working experience, and boosting morale and motivation. Multicultural crews are a new reality. The results of the research can be applied both during the training of deck and engine cadets in the course of Cross Cultural Communication at maritime universities and on board ship in a mixed crew.