This thesis deals with communication issues of multicultural crews in shipping. Communication is a topic constantly addressed in maritime affairs because in critical conditions it can become a key factor when it comes to saving human lives. Communication issues among crew members can further aggravate the situation. The key objective of this thesis is to analyse how seafarers nowadays deal with maritime communication issues in this typically multicultural working environment.
The core topic of this thesis is multiculturalism of crews in shipping. I attempted to study how seafarers reacted when confronted with a multicultural crew, and if multiculturalism may have resulted in maritime communication issues. Seventeen Slovene seafarers completed a questionnaire, the aim of which was to discover how they communicated within a multicultural crew. When the crew includes several different cultures, there will always be issues to address. This statement was confirmed by the respondents. Poor knowledge of English, different hygiene standards and unsociability in the seafarers’ spare time are only some factors that can hinder life at sea.
|
