SHIPSHAPE — A GUIDE TO GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Have a close look into this training package covering the most important aspects of a good shipboard housekeeping. The training set consists of this booklet supplemented with three excellent and very informative videos, addressing the housekeeping on deck, in the engine room, and in the accommodation and galley. The main objective of the authors was to raise the due awareness of the significance of housekeeping and demonstrate how a good housekeeping could be achieved.

The good shipboard procedures for the planned maintenance of any ship will definitely ensure that the structure and equipment of that ship are duly maintained; however, the housekeeping embraces much more areas including timely identification and remediation of the existing deficiencies using the available resources. The ultimate aim is to keep the ship safe and efficiently working at all times.

The housekeeping is a team effort and an integral part of the behavior-based safety, requiring constant safety awareness of all crew members and their vigilance. Their combined efforts will eventually result in operation of the vessel in compliance with the highest standards of seamanship. Though the overall responsibility is with the Master of the ship, every single person on board shall pay close attention to the shipboard housekeeping.