It’s not rank.
Not memory.
Not even technical knowledge.
What truly sets great officers apart is situational awareness — the ability to sense what’s happening before it becomes obvious.

Here’s how seasoned officers train it:

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1. See beyond your console
Know what’s happening in other departments:
• Are engine alarms being silenced too often?
• Did the crew shift garbage handling routines?
• Is cargo operation slightly off-schedule?

Details matter. They form patterns.

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2. Use the “scan loop” every 30 seconds
• Horizon
• Radar
• ECDIS
• Alarms
• Crew behavior
Tip: Don’t fixate. Rotate your attention deliberately.

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3. Build context, not just data
Radar showing a CPA of 0.8 NM?
Ask yourself:
• What’s the sea state?
• Can they actually hold course?
• What else is happening around me?

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4. Run “what if” drills — silently
What if:
• the helmsman misunderstands an order?
• the engine fails at reduced speed?
• the ECDIS goes blank?

Mental simulations build fast reflexes.

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5. Speak up early — with clarity
The best officers don’t hesitate.
They observe early, assess fast, and communicate calmly.

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In shipping, awareness isn’t soft — it’s survival.
Train it like a skill. Use it like a tool.
Because the ones who sense first… act first.