The management of human resources (HR) in the shipping industry is a continuing object of cost management due to the fact that labour cost is becoming an increasingly larger element of overall operational costs. While the fleet of merchant vessels constantly increases in size and the global supply of suitable seafarers shrinks, shipping organizations struggle to administrate their personnel more efficiently. Within this complex and cost-conscious environment,advanced, tailor-made information technology (IT) tools and optimized cost-efficient administrative shoreside working processes are a prerequisite for reliable and efficient HR management. The main aim of this book is to investigate the administrative environment of one of the worlds largest crew management companies, Marlow Navigation and to develop appropriate functional IT instruments and methods aiming at improving productivity and quality of work. The proposed key variables of Marlow HR management system can serve as a model for other business organizations, providing a basis for innovative progression with the potential for differentiation from traditional commercial shipping practices.

Dr. Angelos A. Menelaou, DProf. Shipping Human Resources Management,Project Manager at Marlow Navigation Co. Ltd, Lecturer at FrederickUniversity,Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS), Chief Editorof the International Journal of Ocean Systems Management (IJOSM)