Photo above taken by Bahamas Ferries

Operator Spotlight is an interview series that explores different maritime operators and their experience using eLearning technology in their training programmes.

For today’s post, we had the great pleasure of interviewing Natasha Morgan, the Human Resources Manager of Bahamas Ferries. Bahamas Ferries is a maritime transportation company that offers passenger and freight solutions in Florida, USA and Nassau, Bahamas. Currently operating with around 160 employees and 7 vessels, the company also offers school educational programmes, harbour cruises and other events.

We talked about Bahamas Ferries’ LMS implementation experience, the challenges they faced and the changes they saw in their organization after their implementation. Natasha also shares the company’s plans for the future when it comes to training and employee development.

Can you tell us a little about what your company does? How many employees/crew do you have? How many vessels or routes do you operate?
Bahamas Ferries is a Bahamian maritime transportation company which began service to the islands of the Bahamas in July 1999. As we celebrate 20 successful years in the maritime industry, we are extremely proud of our 162 multicultural crew members (from the Bahamas and various Caribbean islands). Bahamas Ferries provides passenger and bulk freight services to 12 destinations including South Florida by utilizing our fleet of 6 vessels: the Sealink, Bo Hengy III, East Wind, Inagua Spray, Grandmaster II and our newest – the Lady Daisy.
 

What challenges or needs did you face in the maritime industry that led you to look for a training or assessment solution?
In keeping with global trends we were looking for a training model that would allow our crew members to effective retain company information (policies and procedures), that is efficient and economical. As you know, the traditional way of training is in a classroom setting which has proven difficult for us due to our 365 days a year operation schedules. We like the flexibility of E Learning which allows each employee to learn at their pace and on their schedule. We were eager to invest in our employee’s education through E learning because it gave us an opportunity to standardize effective training within the company.

What was the initial reaction to our product from the crew?
E Learning is utilized by various industries in the Bahamas as a successful training model, so the concept was not new, however it was new to our company and initial reaction from our crew members regarding E Learning product was mixed for sure. With crew members ranging from baby boomers to millennials we wanted to ensure employees understood why we were introducing this important educational tool and reap the benefits of training. We were able to accomplish this with a strategic plan to develop and introduce our Orientation Course which provided training on Bahamas Ferries History, Customer Service and International Safety Management for existing and new crew members and it was a huge success.

What was your experience with eLearning both before and after working with us?
Our experience with eLearning before was utilized mainly by crew members needing to complete certification courses online and it was primarily based on the requirements of the individual. With the eLearning platform we can now create and execute standardize course for all crew members which has proven to be very beneficial to Bahamas Ferries as it offers optimum flexibility to employees in completing course during their down time, it is easily accessible, user friendly and convenient.

How did our product influence/help your overall day-to-day operations? What changes did you see?
The eLearning product has helped in our day to day operations with our crew members understanding and appreciating Bahamas Ferries policies and procedures which guides us all. This tool has allowed us to reinforce, reeducate and prioritize training material that suits our specific and unique needs. Within our complex and dynamic operation, safety is paramount at Bahamas Ferries, with this eLearning tool we have introduced various safety training courses that has made a significant difference to keeping our employees safe. There is a heightened awareness among our crew members to not only do thing the right way but to do it the safest way possible.

I am reminded of the electrical safety training course completed and the positive feedback received was very reassuring. Most crewmembers find the courses to be educational, relatable and practical not only in the work environment but also in their personal lives as well, which is fantastic. At Bahamas Ferries our focus is to educate effectively and with eLearning the process is interactive, we have measurable results to review which allows managers to support their employees and improve productivity safely.

How are our companies aligned (mission, strategy, culture, etc.)?
Bahamas Ferries mission embodies the excellence we strive to achieve with our crewmembers, our customers and our shareholders. We are passionate about safety and we all realize that our most precious resources are our employees. That is why it is so important and appropriate that we plan and execute safety strategies, policies and procedures to ensure our employees understand the importance of safety at work. For Bahamas Ferries the best alignment we could hope to accomplish is by creating a safe, productive, satisfying work environment with crew members who enjoy what they do.

What are the biggest challenges on the horizon for your company and industry?
As Bahamas Ferries continues to expand and develop new routes and services throughout our islands one of our biggest challenge is probably increased competition in the maritime industry.
We have seen a great deal of advancement and opportunities for Bahamians in the last 5-10 years particularly in maritime education, entrepreneurship, safety and environmental programs. At Bahamas Ferries our greatest assets truly are our employees who make a difference by delivering excellent customer service, knowledgeable about our products and services and by providing reliable services to our destinations at competitive prices. We are confident and optimistic about our future growth and development as a maritime leader in the Bahamas.

Are there any future training or safety initiatives that you wish to accomplish? Do you have an idea on how to accomplish them?
Yes. We have identified 4 crewmembers as future team leaders and supervisors who require additional leadership and management skills training. We plan to accomplish this initiative through eLearning by creating comprehensive resource-based training specific to our company culture and requirements.

We are extremely pleased to have collaborated with Marine Learning Systems and we recognize the immediate impact this program has made in our training component. With the support of our loyal employees and the successful leadership of our management team we are truly excited to see what the next 20 years holds for Bahamas Ferries.