When the crew is at sea, so to speak, and tensions run high, it's time to chart a different course. As a marine engineer, it's crucial to stay calm and address conflicts head-on. Foster an environment of open communication, transparency, and respect. Encourage team members to share concerns and ideas, and lead by example. Empower each crew member to take ownership of their work, and celebrate successes together. A harmonious team is a high-performing team. Let's navigate the choppy waters of conflict and stay focused on the task at hand: keeping our vessels safe and running smoothly.

Managing conflict in high-pressure situations requires a thoughtful approach. Here’s my take: Take toolbox meetings seriously: Use them to align roles, risks, and timelines. Define roles with RACI Eliminate ambiguity to prevent task conflicts. Address emotional triggers Active listening and reframing defuse tensions effectively. Ensure psychological safety Encourage open dialogue without fear of blame. Prioritise human factors Acknowledge stress and fatigue as critical risks. Debrief strategically Analyse outcomes to refine team dynamics and processes.

People will say lots of things. But in practical i follow only few 1. Make sure crews are properly rested 2. After successful completion, i declare a day off followed by party. 3. Extra food, soft drinks during the jobs 4. Most importantly, announcement of extra overtime will solve everything.

Rest hours nowadays plays a very important role at sea so if critical maintenance need to be done say eg the next day I would knock the guys half day then when we start job clear and proper understanding as to what and who needs to do what need to be discussed given our time frame and the maintenance gets to be done before end of work day knock the guys so all can get a nice and decent rest and it don’t get them fatigue or interfere with their hours of rest

To manage conflict during critical maintenance, I would calmly de-escalate the situation, privately listen to each party to understand the root cause, and refocus the team on the shared goal of completing the task safely and efficiently. By clarifying roles and responsibilities, facilitating a solution-oriented discussion, and following up with a debrief afterward, I would address immediate tensions while promoting long-term teamwork and communication.