A system dynamic analysis of officer manpower in the merchant marine

Abstract

This paper provides a dynamic analysis of the officer supply-chain in the merchant marine. This approach to manpower focuses on the flow of people, that is seafarers, and the flow of information through the manpower supply-chain. Of specific interest are the different factors affecting this flow. Among these are the career structures in the merchant marine, recruitment and wastage patterns, existence of training delays, and the possible presence of feedback relationships between seagoing and shorebased maritime jobs. Considering that one of the most pressing problems the shipping industry faces is a shortage of quality-educated officers, the analysis presented focuses on this segment of maritime manpower. The paper presents a system dynamics methodology, utilized to research aspects of the officer supply-chain. The officer training supply-chain and the existing career path in the merchant marine are outlined. The main characteristics of the United Kingdom officer supply-chain are described, and some aspects of its dynamic behavior are highlighted.