There can be no doubt that advances in technology have aided communication, the speed and volume of communication has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Being of a “certain age” I am lucky to have seen the evolution first hand, and in many cases from the perspective of the technology procurer. I can remember the staunch opposition put up by my colleagues in shipbroking to the heresy I suggested when discarding telex as the primary communication device. Equally I recall with fondness sitting in front of a fax machine trying to get a passenger manifest through to a cruise ship via Inmarsat. Now, the ability to quickly send large amounts of data to pretty much anywhere is taken for granted, this is a huge advantage when co-ordinating such complex projects as installing sea water scrubbers. Equally though, it presents some challenges. By their very nature, these projects are complex and multi-disciplinary. Naval Architects, Chemical Engineers, Marine Engineers, Commercial Managers, Specialist Fabricators and a myriad of others need to communicate quickly and effectively, each with their own perspective of the situation. If you layer onto this the cultural perceptions of suppliers and contractors from different continents and backgrounds, an over reliance on technology to assist communication can lead to problems. There are times when having a conversation, humanising the contact, has a huge benefit to understanding and project progress. Firing off an email in response to a challenge can work, but it can just as often exacerbate the problem, sometimes, picking up the phone or actually meeting up is the best way forward. In our current project, installing sea water scrubbers in two ECA operating ferries, we have found that gently encouraging two parties with opposing views on the best way forward to sit down and talk, often leads to innovation and a better solution. So by all means, utilise the technology to the fullest extent to facilitate data sharing, but don’t get out of the habit of discussing things in person!-
