NI guidance: How to deal with the media during an incident

Connectivity is a key part of having a motivated, engaged and satisfied crew, especially as the ship is the seafarers’ home

Using social media onboard
Your company should have a policy for dealing with all media, including social media. In the event of any incidents or accidents, the social media/online output from a vessel can be hugely significant as images can rapidly emerge on the internet long before any authorised release. Lawyers, investigators and the relevant authorities will interrogate social media sources in the event of an accident or incident, so postings can be hugely damaging to both seafarer and ship operator alike.

Even when there is no incident, posts on social media have the potential to reach thousands of people and to damage the company’s reputation.

Be aware of these do's and don't's to make sure you comply with the ship's social media policy. 

Do…
- Know the company’s guidance and principles
- Set your profile settings so only those you want to see, can see
- Stop and think before posting
- Imagine your colleagues or superiors can read the post
- Remember what you say cannot be unsaid
- Use common sense and courtesy
- Be respectful of other cultures, religions and values
- Respect copyright
- Monitor responses to your post, and ensure they are true, legal and respectful
- Report to the Master if you find any harmful or unpleasant comments.

Do not…
- Be foolish, naïve or act without thinking
- Be insulting, intimidating, threatening or embarrassing to others
- Post defamatory, obscene or threatening materials
- Share internal private company information
- Comment on your company’s business practices
- Cite colleagues or post without their approval
- Risk your job or those of your colleagues
- Ruin your reputation or that of your company or colleagues.

Cyber risks
Increased connectivity can open a vessel’s onboard systems to potential cyber threats, such as seafarers unwittingly downloading a virus or some similar danger to computers onboard. Cyber security is a serious issue which must be managed and the risks mitigated against.

Seafarers need to be made aware of:
- Potential implications of their actions
- Sanctions for any wrong doing
- Actions which may prompt a negative response.

Crew should be aware that information posted online is public and may be viewed by colleagues, clients, competitors, the authorities or the media. All employees have general obligations to act in the best interests of the company, and not breach company confidentiality or the relationship of trust and confidence that exists.

 

This blog post was extracted from a chapter in The NI's publication, The Nautical Institute on Command - third edition.
The chapter Dealing with the media - professional and social was written by Steven Jones.
The book is avaliable to buy here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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