EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION OF SEAMEN - THE GUARANTEE OF ACCIDENT-FREE OPERATION OF SHIPS
In this article, the term «communication» is considered, and also the role of effective communication in professional activity of seamen is analyzed. The author of the article gives the range of definitions of the term «communication» given by scientists-communicologists. He also makes the comparative analysis of these definitions and on their bases makes his own generalizing definition of the term, and also characterizes its main components. Great attention is paid by the author to the need for both future and acting seamen to master professional communicative skills which may be used in any situation at sea. In addition to that, the author considers existing communicative skills, mastering which is one of key elements for fulfilling the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 to provide safety of navigation. In the article, the main role is given to the need to effectively communicate in different situations at sea for both seamen of one ship and seamen of different ships, which may interact for providing safety of navigation. The author gives exact examples of incompetence of members of the crew, and also consequences of their unprofessional actions and lack of effective communication, namely: the author analyzes accidents which happened to three vessels - Russian steamship «Bulgaria», Italian cruise ship «Costa Concordia» and South Korean ferry «Sewol». These vessels, which differ with their navigation areas, seating capacity and many other characteristics, but they are united with one and the same thing - absence of effective communication between crew members, crew members and shore services, crew members and passengers, unconformity of crew members’ actions during rescue operation, and also officers of vessels neglecting their duty as leaders of the crew, who bear responsibility for the ship, crew and passengers and have to provide their safety.