Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Crew Resource Management Course

This course gives you the tools and techniques of crew resource management to make the most of the people, skills, time and information available on board. You will learn to assign roles and plan watches and rest, communicate with closed-loop methods, make decisions under pressure, manage workload and fatigue and handle conflict, so that human error is prevented, safety improves and the team works with a proactive safety culture.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Crew Resource Management Course?

This short course applies the principles of crew resource management to recreational, charter, passenger, work and offshore vessels. You will study what crew resource management is and how it differs from simple coordination, leadership or supervision; the resources a crew really has, from people and competences to rest, information and experience; how to identify the functions a vessel needs and assign roles by experience, skills, condition and language; the planning of watches, reliefs and minimum operational coverage; responsibility matrices; closed-loop communication, briefings, debriefings and handovers; decision-making under uncertainty; and fatigue, wellbeing and conflict in confined spaces.

What sets this course apart: a focus on resources and human performance, treating rest, workload and attention as safety-critical resources to be planned rather than left to chance; a clear method for detecting the warning signs of poor resource management, such as overload, duplicated tasks, critical omissions and slow responses; practical tools such as responsibility matrices, watch plans and handover checklists; and an applied project in which you diagnose a real or realistic crew and design its resource plan, communication protocols and wellbeing and conflict management plan.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • CRM foundations: crew resources, human performance and prevention of human error.
  • Roles and competences: task allocation by experience, skills, condition, certificates and language.
  • Watch planning: watches, reliefs, rest periods, critical tasks and minimum operational coverage.
  • Closed-loop communication: briefings, debriefings, handovers, checklists and logbooks.
  • Fatigue and wellbeing: sleep, workload, life in confined spaces and early signs of stress.
  • Applied project: resource plan, responsibility matrix and communication protocols for a real crew.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Crew Resource Management Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of crew resource management, operational organization and human performance on board

  • 1.1. The concept of crew resource management and the differences between coordination, leadership, task allocation, supervision and operational control
  • 1.2. Types of crew: recreational, professional, passenger, merchant, technical, sporting, offshore and onboard services
  • 1.3. Available resources: people, competences, time, rest, communication, tools, information, experience and operational support
  • 1.4. The relationship between resource management, safety, efficiency, working climate, quality of service and error prevention
  • 1.5. Risks of poor management: overload, fatigue, duplicated tasks, critical omissions, conflict and reduced capacity to respond
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Roles, competences, watches and planning of crew work

  • 2.1. Identifying the functions required by type of vessel, route, activity, passengers, cargo and level of risk
  • 2.2. Assigning roles according to experience, technical skills, physical condition, certificates, language and degree of autonomy
  • 2.3. Planning watches, rest periods, reliefs, critical tasks and minimum operational coverage
  • 2.4. Managing competences, training, onboard familiarization, performance assessment and skills updating
  • 2.5. Responsibility matrices defining who decides, carries out, supports, informs, checks and responds to incidents
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Communication, leadership, coordination and team decision-making

  • 3.1. Closed-loop communication, clear instructions, active listening, confirmation of understanding and timely reporting of critical information
  • 3.2. Briefings, debriefings, handovers, checklists, logbooks, shift meetings and updating of priorities
  • 3.3. Leadership by the skipper, officers, heads of department or watch leaders through clarity, calm, authority and support for the team
  • 3.4. Decision-making under pressure, prioritizing tasks, managing uncertainty and adapting to operational changes
  • 3.5. Coordination between deck, bridge, engine room, interior, galley, service, safety, maintenance and passenger care
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Fatigue, wellbeing, life on board and conflict management in crews

  • 4.1. Physical and mental fatigue caused by shifts, watches, long passages, workload, noise, motion and insufficient rest
  • 4.2. Crew wellbeing: sleep, food, hydration, breaks, privacy, physical activity and basic emotional support
  • 4.3. Living in confined spaces, cultural differences, hierarchies, communication styles and the perceived sharing of tasks
  • 4.4. Preventing and resolving conflict through direct conversation, mediation, agreements, follow-up and professional respect
  • 4.5. Spotting signs of stress, isolation, irritability, low motivation, poor performance or a deteriorating team climate
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Applied project in crew resource management

  • 5.1. Definition of the case: yacht, sailing boat, motorboat, catamaran, passenger boat, workboat, seasonal crew or local fleet
  • 5.2. Diagnosis of the crew: competences, watches, workload, communication, fatigue, conflicts and operational needs
  • 5.3. Design of the resource plan with roles, responsibilities, task matrix, watches, rest periods, training and minimum coverage
  • 5.4. Preparation of protocols for communication, briefings, handovers, decision-making and coordination between departments
  • 5.5. Development of the wellbeing plan, conflict management, emergencies, drills, indicators and continuous improvement
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Crew Resource Management Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Crew Resource Management Course

01Allocate tasks within the crew sensibly, taking into account each member's qualifications, experience, fatigue and fit with the team to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
02Put effective onboard communication strategies in place, with clear, concise and unambiguous phrases and protocols that put safety and mutual understanding first.
03Look after the wellbeing and safety of the crew through stress and fatigue management routines, open conversation about physical and mental condition and respect for rest periods.
04Foster a collaborative and respectful working climate by encouraging open communication and active listening and building trust and mutual support within the team.
05Keep crew management in line with applicable requirements through up-to-date records of certificates, medical fitness and rest hours that can be checked at any time.
06Develop leadership and decision-making skills for critical situations, assessing risks, setting priorities under pressure and communicating and adapting the plan as the situation evolves.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Crew Resource Management Course

01Crew plannerwatch and rota planning that balances operational needs, rest requirements and efficiency.
02Crew coordinator or purser on yachts, charter and passenger vessels
03Skipper, officer or head of department applying crew resource management in daily operations
04Crew training and development specialist designing familiarization and teamwork programs
05Human-factors adviser supporting operators in reducing human error and improving safety culture
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Crew Resource Management Course

It is an approach that makes the best use of everything a crew has, including people, skills, time, rest, information and tools, to improve safety and efficiency and prevent human error.

The crew coordination course concentrates on the chain of command and synchronizing departments. This course centers on resources and human performance: competences, workload, rest, fatigue, wellbeing and the prevention of error.

No. The approach is applied to yachts, sailing and motor boats, catamarans, passenger and work vessels, seasonal crews and local fleets, adapting the tools to the size of each crew.

Yes. You will plan watches, reliefs, rest periods and critical tasks, define minimum operational coverage and build responsibility matrices for the crew.

Yes. You will study the causes and signs of fatigue and stress, the basics of crew wellbeing and practical ways to prevent and resolve conflicts in confined spaces.

Online, with interactive modules, practical exercises and discussion forums where you can share experiences with other professionals, at your own pace.

Through exercises in each module and a final applied project in which you design the resource plan, communication protocols and wellbeing plan for a specific crew.

Related programs

More programs in People and leadership

View the whole area →

Short course · 300 hCrew Performance Appraisal Course$460 · View program →Short course · 300 hCrew Recruitment and Administration Course$480 · View program →Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Leadership and Decision-Making$870 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: a background in management, human resources, psychology or a nautical field, or demonstrable experience leading teams; skippers, officers, heads of department, crew managers and HR staff in the maritime sector are welcome.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with webcam and microphone and a broadband connection to follow the classes and take part in the case discussions.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $172 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

Enroll now

Consent
Scroll to Top