Communication Outweighs Competence: Determinants of Effective Engine-Department Response to Main Engine Failure in Severe Weather

Figure Ilustration AI

FORMOSA NEWS - Banten - Communication Outweighs Competence During Emergency Main Engine Failures at Sea, Study Finds. Clear team communication and emergency preparedness play a far more decisive role than technical competence or coordination when marine engineers respond to main engine failures during severe weather. This major insight comes from a quantitative research study published in August 2026 by researchers Rahmat Santoso, Cholis Imam Nawawi, Budi Purnomo, and Andesvan Gumay from Politeknik Pelayaran Banten (Banten Maritime Polytechnic). By surveying 112 experienced marine engineering officers, the team analyzed how crew dynamics directly affect a ship's safety during critical propulsion outages. The findings provide valuable evidence for shipping operators, maritime academies, and regulatory bodies seeking to prevent catastrophic shipwrecks and environmental disasters.

Background: The Human Element in Maritime Emergencies

A ship's main engine is its central lifeline. When propulsion fails in calm waters, a vessel can usually drift safely while engineers perform repairs. However, when an engine fails during severe weather, high waves and strong winds quickly push an unpowered vessel toward grounding, collision, or capsizing. Severe weather increases mechanical strain on machinery while simultaneously creating physical and psychological stress for the crew. While maritime engineering has advanced predictive maintenance technology and automated fault detection, unexpected mechanical breakdowns still happen at sea. Modern maritime safety frameworks have traditionally focused heavily on technical certifications or bridge crew management. However, less attention has been paid to non-technical skills within the engine room control center during high-stakes emergencies. Understanding whether emergency outcomes depend more on individual technical knowledge or team communication helps maritime institutions allocate training budgets more effectively.

Simple Methodology and Officer Demographics
The researchers conducted a quantitative survey involving 112 marine engineering officers enrolled in professional development programs at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten. The study sample represented highly experienced maritime professionals rather than entry-level students:

• Sea Experience: 66.1% of respondents had served more than six years at sea.
  
• Real-World Exposure: 89.3% had directly experienced main engine failure while at sea.
  
• Qualifications: 82.2% held Engineer Officer Class III or Class IV certifications, and 71.4% had completed formal emergency response training.
  

Data was gathered using a 60-item questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale to evaluate four primary factors: technical competence, team communication, task coordination, and emergency preparedness. The research team used Pearson correlation analysis to evaluate basic relationships and multiple linear regression analysis to isolate the unique statistical contribution of each factor toward overall response effectiveness.

Key Findings: Communication Dominates Response Success
When evaluated individually, all four factors showed strong positive connections to effective emergency responses. Officers rated task coordination highest in overall presence (average score of 4.10 out of 5), followed by communication (4.02), preparedness (3.94), and technical competence (3.83). However, when all four factors were evaluated simultaneously in a multiple regression model—which explained 89.7% of the total variance in response effectiveness—a striking contrast emerged:

• Communication was the strongest driver: Team communication retained a dominant statistical weight ($\beta = 0.747, p < 0.001$), showing the highest influence on response success.
  
• Preparedness was second: Emergency preparedness retained a positive, statistically significant contribution ($\beta = 0.306, p = 0.001$).
  
• Technical competence and coordination dropped out: Neither technical competence ($\beta = -0.058, p = 0.478$) nor coordination ($\beta = 0.014, p = 0.886$) maintained unique statistical significance when communication and preparedness were held constant.
  

The researchers explained that technical competence and coordination remain essential, but their benefits are funneled through clear communication and rehearsed drills. An engineer may possess deep technical knowledge, but that knowledge only improves the ship's outcome if it is rapidly and clearly communicated to both the engine room team and the ship's bridge navigation deck.

Industry Implications and Real-World Impact
These results offer practical guidance for shipping companies, maritime training academies, and international safety regulators. Because veteran marine engineers already possess high technical qualifications, allocating extra training time solely to engineering theory yields diminishing returns. Instead, shipping organizations can improve safety outcomes by investing in:

• Standardized Communication Protocols: Implementing precise, structured reporting templates for engine room crews to notify the bridge during engine failures.
  
• Simulator-Based Drill Practice: Expanding realistic, simulator-based emergency drills that replicate noisy, high-stress, severe-weather conditions.
  
• Engine Resource Management (ERM): Shifting non-technical training focus toward clear information exchange and situational awareness under extreme conditions.

Author Profiles
Rahmat Santoso, M.T.: Marine engineering researcher and lecturer at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, specializing in marine propulsion systems, engine department management, and maritime safety.
Cholis Imam Nawawi, M.T.: Academic researcher at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, focusing on engine resource management and maritime operational efficiency.
Budi Purnomo, M.Pd.: Specialist in maritime education and training methodologies at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten.
Andesvan Gumay, M.T.: Marine engineering specialist at Politeknik Pelayaran Banten, researching shipboard safety protocols and human performance in high-risk environments.

Source
Rahmat Santoso, Cholis Imam Nawawi, Budi Purnomo, Andesvan Gumay. Communication Outweighs Competence: Determinants of Effective Engine-Department Response to Main Engine Failure in Severe Weather. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol, 5 No. 8 Hal 1727-1742.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i8.105
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas