Splash247: Shipmanagement has become crisis management

Published by Splash247

Irene Rosberg from the Copenhagen Business School is back writing for Splash today.

Shipmanagement has become considerably more demanding in recent years. Decarbonisation requirements, crew and skills shortages, environmental regulation and digitalisation are all changing the way vessels are managed. Geopolitical instability, however, has the potential to intensify every one of these challenges.

When an established trade route becomes unsafe, ship managers are responsible for turning a decision to divert into an operational plan. Rerouting a vessel affects much more than its position on a chart. It can alter voyage duration, bunker requirements, charter schedules, crew-change arrangements, insurance cover and emissions.

Diversions around the Cape of Good Hope following disruption in the Red Sea have added thousands of nautical miles and considerable time to some Asia-Europe voyages. Ship managers must recalculate fuel requirements, review bunker availability and determine whether vessel speed should be adjusted to meet commercial commitments.

These decisions bring difficult environmental consequences. Longer voyages consume more fuel, while increasing speed to recover lost time can raise consumption further. Ship managers may therefore find themselves working to meet decarbonisation targets while responding to events that make those targets harder to achieve. The operating environment is also becoming more technically demanding. GPS spoofing and interference with AIS signals can impair navigation in areas of heightened tension, creating additional risk for vessels and crews.

Advanced monitoring software and upgraded electronic systems can provide greater awareness, but the technology is only effective when people have the skills to use it properly. Ship managers must ensure that crews can interpret the information, recognise when a system may be unreliable and respond safely. This is particularly difficult when the industry is already facing a shortage of suitably skilled personnel.

Crew management has become another major pressure point. Closed airspace, restricted airports and unsafe ports can prevent seafarers from joining or leaving vessels. Crew-change arrangements that would normally be routine may become impractical, leaving seafarers on board beyond their expected contract periods. Restrictions imposed by some governments on the deployment of their nationals through high-risk areas can narrow the available crewing pool further. Ship managers must continue operating vessels safely while protecting the welfare of people who may be working under considerable uncertainty.

Financial exposure has also increased. Vessels transiting high-risk areas may require additional war-risk cover or voyage-specific underwriting. Sanctions and changing compliance requirements add further complexity, with ship managers needing to assess whether proposed routes, ports, cargoes and counterparties remain acceptable. The modern shipmanager must therefore understand far more than the technical operation of a vessel. The role requires knowledge of commercial agreements, insurance, compliance, cybersecurity, environmental regulation and crew welfare. It also requires judgement. These pressures cannot always be addressed through a fixed procedure. A decision that protects a charter schedule may increase fuel consumption. A safer route may carry significant commercial consequences. A technological solution may require skills that are not yet available across the fleet.

Professional development must keep pace with this reality. At Copenhagen Business School, we are strong advocates of lifelong learning. In an industry facing rapid and continuous change, the knowledge gained at the beginning of a maritime career cannot be expected to remain sufficient throughout it.

Shipmanagers need opportunities to update their technical knowledge, but they must also strengthen their ability to assess risk, understand the wider consequences of their decisions and adapt when circumstances change unexpectedly. This was the thinking behind the Ship Management Academy developed by the CBS Blue MBA Association and BIMCO, taking place on 28th September to 2nd October 2026. The aim is to help maritime professionals build the commercial, operational and strategic understanding required to manage the challenges now affecting the sector. Geopolitical disruption will not be the last major test the industry faces. Regulation, technology, new fuels and changing workforce requirements will continue to reshape ship management.

The industry cannot predict every crisis, but it can prepare its people to respond. Investing in their skills, judgement and adaptability is essential to protecting vessels, crews and operations in an increasingly uncertain environment.