Unconsciously Incompetent or Consciously Ignoring Incompetence

In inland shipping, the competence of the skipper plays a crucial role, especially under challenging conditions such as poor visibility. Yet in practice, certification does not always guarantee actual proficiency.

To be allowed to navigate as a responsible skipper during poor visibility, a radar certificate is required. This can be obtained after a few days of training and passing an exam according to the set guidelines. However, the current and growing shortage of crew forces shipping companies and inland shipping operators to sometimes appoint skippers whose competence is not sufficiently known or demonstrated.

An assessment prior to promotion to skipper should therefore be a standard part of the promotion process. Industry organisations, training providers and operators are already considering how training requirements can help reduce the shortage while ensuring competence.

Inland shipping is vital for the transport of goods, including dangerous goods. Vessels are built to high safety standards and equipped with advanced equipment to navigate safely even in poor visibility, such as heavy fog. Safe navigation speeds, knowledge of legislation and—more importantly—the practical application of this knowledge are essential. A good decision may even mean stopping the vessel, for example in cases of fatigue. Time pressure is a potential risk in all sectors, and inland shipping is no exception.

For comparison: in aviation, extensive pre-flight preparation is standard. Pilots receive years of training, are regularly retrained, and prepare each flight in detail. Inland shipping is increasingly adopting similar voyage preparation, focusing on routes, obstacles and risks.

It is also important that responsibility does not rest on one person alone. The competencies of all crew members should be considered and used, so that decisions are made collectively. This increases safety awareness and reduces the risk of incidents. Administration alone is not the answer: what looks correct on paper must also be safe in practice.

Competence management
Today’s vessels meet high technical standards, but human factors require more attention. Greater focus on training and education of the entire crew is necessary. Human error cannot be eliminated by paperwork or technical adjustments alone, but it can be mitigated through solid competence management. Training must align with the needs of shipping companies and operators. It is time to stop ignoring incompetence and address it systematically.

A competent skipper – whether in good or poor visibility – will always bring the vessel safely to its destination.