4 communication

MRM Workbook, Student Material Communication and Briefings, page 1 Last amended: 22 August 2007

COMMUNICATION AND BRIEFINGS Training Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

- State the principles of good communication: Setting the climate, interactive, closed loop,

- Recognise the importance of briefings, in particular a good master - pilot information

exchange and a change of watch briefing.

- Recognise the importance of debriefings. Specific Behavioural Objectives

The master shall: 1. Lead a pre-departure briefing, which includes:

- Presentation of the route plan - Interaction with the bridge team - Setting of stipulated requirements - Identification of possible weak links on the route - Establishing standards and guidelines to be met during the passage - Setting the environment for an effective team oriented operation

2. Brief the pilot on the ship’s characteristics and equipment using the pilot card. 3. Ask the pilot to present his route plan and give information on local conditions. The team leader shall: 1. Demonstrate responsibility to brief and co-ordinate operational factors with the

team. 2. Establish an open, interactive and closed loop communication style. 3. During the voyage, brief the team on any significant situations encountered. 4. During the voyage or as soon as possible after the voyage, debrief the team on any

significant situations encountered. The debriefing should:

- Be a whole team affair, - Cover positive and negative points - Not blame individuals - Be a positive learning experience - Result in a plan for future improvements in early detection and correction of

errors

Copyright © 1993-2007 The Swedish Club


The pilot shall: 1. Present a route plan explaining his navigational intentions, enabling the bridge team

to monitor the progress of the vessel along the planned track. 2. Brief the bridge team on local conditions and traffic regulations. 3. Inform the bridge team before making any change of course or speed. 4. Inform the bridge team of any changes or expected changes regarding traffic,

weather, visibility, currents etc. 5. Should the principles of good briefings and communications not be used by the

master/bridge team, the pilot should point this out in a diplomatic way.

The team member shall: 1. Actively support and participate in all briefings and debriefings. 2. Ensure that good briefings and communications are used when changing over the

watch. 3. Actively participate in a working environment that supports effective

communications principles. 4. Should the principles of good briefings and communication not be used by the

master or pilot, the officer on watch should point this out in a diplomatic way so as not to threaten the leadership or command.



Extracts from the CBT:

The sender sends a message, the receiver acknowledges it by repeating the key parts back to the sender, and then the sender confirms the acknowledgement.

The Closed Loop

Sender Reciever

acknowledgesend & confirm

Briefings and debriefings:

One important area of communication is briefings. The team leader sets the climate for the briefing. The briefing sets the climate for the operation.

Say what you do, and do what you say!



Briefing guidelines:

• make time • open & friendly • who should run? • interactive • define resposibilities • closed loop • keep on course • any more questions?

Any more questions?

Some tips on Debriefings:

1. as soon as possible 2. yourself first 3. postive & negative – learning experience 4. whole team 5. interesting 6. make plans based on the debreifing



Team Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) and checklists for your work? Are there advantages and drawbacks?

2. Apart from arrival and departure and change of watch, where else could you do a

briefing? 3. Most mariners would say that they do not have time for briefings/debriefings.

What’s your opinion? 4. Is it a good idea to delegate a briefing to someone else, as was done in the video? 5. Does a debriefing have to be a formal meeting? 6. Should you debrief on a positive journey, after things went well, or just when people

have made mistakes? 7. What can go wrong with debriefings? 8. In which way do briefings/debriefings add to safety? 9. (For masters:) How would you react to a pilot, giving a briefing like the one in the

CBT video? 10. (For pilots:) How would you react to a master, requesting a briefing like the one in the

CBT video? 11. What do you expect from a good briefing? 12. How do you define communication?

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4 communication

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