Non-Technical Skills Taxonomy for Officers of the Deck [NTS-OOD]

Description

The Non-Technical Skills Taxonomy for Officers of the Deck (NTS-OOD) is a structured system designed to identify and assess the non-technical skills required by deck officers in maritime environments. These skills support the effective execution of duties and help officers respond to the demands associated with maritime operations.

The framework emphasizes human and behavioral factors that complement technical maritime competence and may influence operational performance and safety on the bridge.

Core Non-Technical Skills

The main non-technical skills included in the NTS-OOD framework are:

Communication: effective exchange of information among crew members.

Decision-making: the ability to make rapid and rational decisions, particularly under pressure.

Teamwork: cooperation and coordination with other officers and crew members in order to achieve common operational goals.

Workload management: effective allocation, organization, and prioritization of tasks to prevent overload and support optimal performance.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the NTS-OOD is to identify and evaluate the critical non-technical skills of deck officers that contribute to the effective execution of maritime operations.

The framework also aims to improve safety and performance in navigation by promoting skills such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making. In addition, it can support the development of training programs that strengthen officers’ ability to manage difficult and unpredictable situations.

Assessment and Use of Data

Assessment of non-technical skills is primarily conducted through observation and evaluation of officers’ behavior while performing their duties. The collected data include qualitative information that can be coded and analyzed in order to determine skill levels and identify areas requiring improvement.

The main analytical approaches include qualitative analysis of behavior through structured expert observation and statistical analysis to compare non-technical skills across different officers and examine their potential relationship with performance and safety in maritime operations.

Training Use

The information obtained through NTS-OOD assessment can be used to strengthen the education and training of deck officers. In particular, the results can support targeted feedback and training interventions aimed at improving specific areas of non-technical performance.

This approach is particularly relevant in high-risk maritime environments, where effective communication, coordinated teamwork, and sound decision-making are important components of safe operational performance.

Calibration and Assessment Quality

The calibration of the NTS-OOD framework includes procedures intended to strengthen the consistency and relevance of the assessment process.

These procedures include reliability analysis to examine the consistency of ratings made by different observers or trainers, content validation to ensure that the system adequately assesses the skills required of deck officers, and feedback from subject matter experts to support the continuous improvement of the taxonomy and its assessment procedures.

Applications

The NTS-OOD framework may be used in deck officer training, maritime education, structured behavioral observation, bridge simulation, and the evaluation of non-technical performance.

It may also provide a useful framework for identifying individual and team training needs, delivering structured feedback, and supporting the development of safer and more effective maritime operations.

References

Flin, R., O’Connor, P., & Crichton, M. (2008). Safety at the Sharp End: A Guide to Non-Technical Skills. Ashgate Publishing.

Laczko, D., & Lancaster, S. (2014). The importance of non-technical skills in the maritime industry. International Journal of Maritime Engineering, 156(A3), 195–204.

Grech, M. R., Horberry, T. J., & Smith, A. (2008). Human Factors in the Maritime Domain. CRC Press.