Drills and trainings on boards of the ships are an essential part of seafarer’s profession. The importance of human element in a system of safety measures is unavoidable even though how smart the technology has developed. Every ship must have a contingency plan reserved that contains procedure practice for unprecedented situations. Trans Oceanic Marine Solutions, TOMS, headquartered in Mumbai has established its name as a maritime consultancy with perceptive requirements of the international maritime trade. The firm possess versatility on providing solutions towards the fast and constant changing maritime industry, scattered across shipboard surveys & inspections, prevetting and tanker services, vessel assessment, accident investigations, development of ship specific manuals as per IMO guidelines, and also onboard training and learning management systems.

In the fast changing maritime environment and onboard structures coupled with the mixed multinational/crew culture with language barriers reduction in crew strength and commercial pressure involved, understanding the role of human element is the key for safety improvement. Capt. Suraj V. Deshpande Founder of TOMS also has the same opinion where he elaborates that industry safety standards and education is at its best when carried out in a one to one training with personal touch on the job. The company assists clients in the production of risk assessment, hazard register and safe operating procedures at the work site. Here it

provides a one to one practical session and on-spot facilitator process where the trainer mediates a simulated training process of practical sessions and group discussions in a fun filled and jovial atmosphere. For a maritime company engaged across the world in various types of vessels, TOMS provided specific on-board trainings including Reflective and Resilience training contents and facilitation process, ISM, ISPS &live Navigational, Cargo and environmental Audits, Prevetting preparations for SIRE, CDI, and RightShip inspections.

TOMS bears trainers with vast industry knowledge and indepth understanding of the safety procedures

“On board training being my forte, I have learnt and improvised a lot from this industry. Now I wish to give back to the industry and my fellow sailing mates in terms of safety and its improved ways of safe working culture. Recently, we were appointed as consultants in salvage operations of an ill fated dead grounded and breached tanker with Naphtha as cargo onboard, in Goa. The Refloating of the vessel, berthing undertowage and entire discharging operation of naphtha, followed by tanks cleaned, was carried out under close supervision and with utmost caution towards the safety of Vessel, operating staff and environment. The operations ended with nil incidents/accidents and zero pollution to the waters. This has gained applauds and appreciation from all corners of the maritime industry”, explains Capt.Suraj V Deshpande, Founder, TOMS.

Suraj formulates training where, the trainer rather than creating conventional PPTs, classroom lectures, and video lessons, demands a different approach altogether that includes group discussions, team building team work, just culture stop work practices, communication skills, practical chart making of risk assessments, mitigations and implementation of safe and moral onboard culture. This approach is expected to remain as a standard that endures compared to the classroom nature. TOMS bears trainers with vast industry knowledge and indepth understanding of the safety procedures to enable the provision of practical, feasible and reliable solutions to minimize potential risks. The company faced a major challenge when it was appointed as consultant to salvage the grounded/breached tanker in Goa. TOMS embarked on operations that concluded successfully without any mishaps.

For Suraj, expanding of like minded people who are interested and keen on giving/sharing back to the industry is important. “It is no sort of a competitive process where people compete to achieve something. We measure the outcome when something goes back to the industry as TOMS embarks upon its Tag line of ‘Transforming Objectives of Marine Solutions’”, concludes Suraj.