The social dimension of maritime leadership: the attitude of seafarers towards each other

Abstract

The article is based on a pilot study. The phenomenon of the social dimension of maritime leadership is analyzed in terms of seafarers’ attitudes towards each other. The study is based on the epistemological principles, i.e., STCW Convention: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, existentialism, and the paradigm of holistic education. Seafarers’ attitudes towards each other are revealed by identifying them towards navigators and ship mechanics and highlighting a possible change in their attitudes. The main methods such as written survey and phenomenological content analysis were applied to the research. The phenomenon of the social dimension of maritime leadership, examined in terms of seafarers’ attitudes towards each other, can be summarized in three theses. Firstly, navigational leadership appears as an intermediate one. However, not only their disrespect for others, lack of engineering knowledge, pretense, but also the diversity of their personalities, nobility, and the possibility of their education were stated. Secondly, the relationship between navigators and ship mechanics is problematic. It is believed that ship mechanics misunderstand navigators. The established opinion that good specialists are valued encourages constructive cooperation. Thirdly, a study was conducted on seafarers’ attitudes to their change. There was indicated not only a denial of change, but also long-term cooperation and a conscious effort to understand the crew member.