12 LMM V I S I O N ISSUE 24 | Q1 2026 SEAFARERS’ INTERVIEW INTERVIEW WITH SEAFARERS THE 5 LEVELS OF SAFETY CULTURE In this issue, we have the pleasure to host Capt Pavlos Georgiadis (PG) and C/E John Cenon (JC) of Captain Spiro, and Capt. Benedikt Seman (BS) and C/E Nikolaos Fragkakis (NF) of Hellas Marianna. All of the interviewers are well experienced and we are glad they share with us their knowledge and opinion on Safety Culture. Describe what do you understand by the term “Safety Culture”. PG: Safety culture is a shared perception of safety policies, procedures, practices and behaviors of seafarers as well as the companies in which they work. Safety culture is a significant determinant of safety outcomes and is a leading indicator of accidents and injuries. It is of high significance to note that solely having a safety procedure does not create safety culture on board. JC: Safety culture is a mindset that shows how much a person is committed to safety with regards to his work, vessel, cargo and crewmates. BS: The term Safety Culture on board refers to the shared attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors through which all crew members, together with management, consistently prioritize health, safety, and environmental protection in every aspect of their work. A strong safety culture goes beyond simply complying with procedures or completing mandatory checklists. It fosters a proactive commitment to identifying hazards, managing risks, and preventing incidents before they occur. By encouraging open communication, continuous learning, and personal accountability, a positive safety culture helps ensure the safety of personnel, the vessel, cargo, and the environment. NF: Safety culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that determine an organization’s commitment to health and safety management especially onboard vessels that are such a demanding place of work regarding danger. Based on the Safety Culture Matrix, what do you think is the level of safety culture on board? Could you provide an example to support your assessment? PG: Based on the Safety Culture Matrix, I would assess the level of safety culture on board our vessel as Proactive. On many occasions, we have successfully identified and addressed potential risks as part of our daily planning, preventing them from escalating into incidents. For example, during a deck-painting operation, a crew member noticed that another crew member was not wearing safety goggles despite the strong wind conditions. The Stop Work Authority was immediately exercised, and the task was halted. The crew member was instructed to wear the appropriate eye protection and to reposition himself away from the wind direction to prevent paint from splashing onto his face or eyes. This proactive intervention elimi-
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