Administrative Challenges in the Maritime Industry

Bureaucracy in shipping increasingly affects the daily work of captains and crews. Documentation, originally intended to streamline operations and enhance safety, has become a burden, consuming significant time and resources.
This issue is thoroughly discussed in the article “Navigation sur la paperasserie dans l’industrie maritime, le point de vue du capitaine” (Paper Burden in the Maritime Industry: Captain’s Perspective), written by Capt. Jerzy Najmola, which was recently published in the December issue of AFCAN.

About AFCAN – The French Association of Shipmasters

AFCAN – The French Association of Shipmasters 

AFCAN (Association Française des Capitaines de Navires) is an organization that brings together French shipmasters actively involved in shaping the future of maritime navigation. The association participates in the work of key institutions such as:

• International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the leading regulatory body for maritime safety and environmental protection,
• Météo France – the French meteorological service providing forecasts and analysis for the maritime sector,
• Université de Bretagne Occidentale – a university conducting research and education in maritime economy and navigation.

By collaborating with these institutions, AFCAN contributes to the development of maritime operations, providing expert analysis and recommendations on key industry challenges.

From CESMA to AFCAN – Expanding the Article’s Reach

Capt. Jerzy Najmola’s article was originally published in the September edition of the CESMA Newsletter, issued by the Confederation of European Shipmasters’ Associations, representing shipmasters’ associations across Europe.

The publication in CESMA helped bring international attention to the growing administrative burden in the maritime sector, engaging experts and industry professionals in further discussion.

With its publication in AFCAN, the article has also been made available to French-speaking maritime professionals. This step raises awareness of the issue of bureaucracy in shipping and its impact on captains’ daily operations.

Bureaucracy in Shipping – A Modern Industry Challenge

In the article, Capt. Jerzy Najmola highlights that excessive documentation, rather than improving efficiency, is increasingly becoming an obstacle. Regulations and control systems, originally intended to enhance operational oversight, have led to a situation where captains spend more time completing paperwork than managing their vessels and ensuring navigational safety.

The article specifically addresses the following key issues:

• The impact of bureaucracy on operational efficiency – identifying which administrative tasks consume the most time and how they could be optimized,
• Safety vs. documentation – whether the amount of required reporting actually improves risk management,
• The future of maritime regulations – what changes are needed to reduce the burden on captains and allow them to focus on essential navigation tasks.

Publication Availability

Although AFCAN publishes its articles in print, the text is also available online on the organization’s website:
Navigation sur la paperasserie dans l’industrie maritime, le point de vue du capitaine

The publication is also available in English in the CESMA Newsletter – September 2024:
CESMA Newsletter – September 2024

Continuing the Discussion on Bureaucracy in Shipping

The issue of bureaucracy in shipping, as emphasized by Capt. Jerzy Najmola, remains a subject of extensive debate and analysis. More experts and organizations recognize the need to simplify processes. At the same time, safety oversight and regulatory compliance must not be compromised.

We thank CESMA for the initial publication and AFCAN for bringing this important discussion to the French-speaking maritime community. We hope that future initiatives and research will contribute to meaningful improvements in documentation management in the shipping industry.

Technology as a Solution to Bureaucratic Challenges

The increasing number of administrative tasks was one of the key reasons behind the development of ShipDocs. This comprehensive application was designed to support documentation management and maritime operations, addressing the growing bureaucracy in shipping.

ShipDocs automates processes, reduces manual work, and ensures transparency in reporting. It allows captains and crews to focus on their most critical tasks instead of paperwork.

ShipDocs is a market-driven solution. It helps shipowners and crews comply with regulatory requirements more efficiently while reducing the paperwork burden.

Read more about ShipDocs: Discover ShipDocs – the ultimate solution for managing your fleet