Managing Multiple and Conflicting Goals in Dynamic and Complex Situations: Exploring the Practical Field of Maritime Pilots

Abstract

Maritime pilots have to deal with multiple and conflicting goals during their work. They experience three critical points during their job: (1) entering the waters within the breakwaters; (2) entering and leaving the lock and (3) the mooring of the ship / leaving the quay. At these critical points the situation can be described as more dynamically complex (because for example more decisions are made under time pressure) and tightly coupled (for example because slack is limited) than at other points during the trip. The research results suggest that maritime pilots prepare and manage multiple and conflicting goals, including safety production trade-off decisions, during simpler and loosely coupled times in the operation. Such preparation for trade-off decisions, and meta-knowledge about them, is consistent with earlier findings in e.g. fighter pilots. It makes it possible for a maritime pilot to respond to unexpected and sudden changes, creating margin, or resilience in their operations.