Analysis of seafarers’ non-technical skills: cause-and-effect relationships

Abstract With the developing technology, digitalization, smart machines, and autonomous systems are becoming an important part of industrial processes. This shift has placed greater emphasis on the NTS (Non-technical Skills) of employees, rather than their technical expertise. In this context, the development of seafarers’ NTS is crucial to ensuring safe operations in maritime transportation. This study investigates the criteria for seafarers’ NTS. It examines training and assessment standards, particularly the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), industry practices, and academic studies in detail to identify the criteria for seafarers’ NTS. Following this, the cause-and-effect relationships among these criteria were analysed using the Fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method. The analysis revealed that self-awareness is the most influential cause criterion affecting other criteria. The aim of the study is to identify criteria for developing seafarers’ NTS and to determine the relationships and interactions between these NTS.