Henrik Jensen, founder and CEO of Danica Crewing Specialists, warned about the importance of managing employee distance in the shipping industry ahead of the Crew Connect Global 2026 event in Manila (from October 20 to 22). Jensen emphasized that while retaining experienced employees is a top priority, changing attitudes towards hiring indicate that the distance of some employees is inevitable, and shipping companies must be better prepared to manage these changes.
The Importance of Having a Stable Crew
Jensen stated that having a stable crew has a significant impact on the safe and efficient operation of a ship. Experienced crew members who are familiar with the ship, equipment, and each other are less likely to make mistakes, thereby preventing accidents, injuries, and costly disruptions. He said, "Shipping companies logically invest heavily in retaining employees, but even those that offer excellent hiring conditions may still lose their staff. We also need to think about how to manage these changes."
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New Strategies for Attracting Young Workforce
Jensen explained that traditional employee retention strategies, including competitive salaries, bonuses, insurance, pensions, and promotion opportunities, are primarily designed based on the expectations of previous generations that value stability and long-term employment. However, younger employees typically have a greater tendency to explore new opportunities, even if they are satisfied with their current conditions. He believes this trend will increase as they advance in their careers.
Jensen believes that shipping companies should focus on facilitating new employees' familiarity with equipment, procedures, and working methods. He suggested that at least safety and quality management procedures should be reviewed annually to eliminate unnecessary or outdated requirements and to focus on practical guidelines relevant to each seafarer's role.
Utilizing digital systems and artificial intelligence can also help employees quickly find and understand relevant procedures. Jensen also emphasized the need for further standardization of equipment and regulations to facilitate movement between ships, citing the differences between manufacturers' ECDIS systems as an example of unnecessary complexities.
Jensen concluded, "Of course, we must continue all our efforts to retain good seafarers, but we must also accept that some distances are inevitable. If we want ships to be operated safely and efficiently, we must simultaneously manage the retention and movement of crews."
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