Artur Trus Novikontas Conference on Human Factors
OJ Crew CEO Artur Trus spoke at the Novikontas People Conference on human factors and safety at sea. During the Artur Trus Novikontas Conference session, he contributed as a speaker and panelist.. He joined industry professionals to discuss how leadership, behavior and real working conditions shape safety‑critical operations.
The conference brought together maritime experts to face a critical reality. Procedures in shipping are well established, but the conditions in which people apply them often fall short. Artur Trus stressed that improving safety is not about adding more rules. Instead, leaders need to understand the environment, pressure and human limits that influence decisions on board.
Speakers and participants focused on key challenges seafarers face every day. They discussed decision‑making under pressure, the impact of fatigue, and the gap between written procedures and actual behavior in real situations. These issues are not abstract. They shape operational outcomes on every voyage and show why human factors must stay at the center of maritime safety.
As part of the programme, Artur Trus joined the panel “Aligning Leadership Intent With Real‑World Behavioral Performance in the field.” Together with experts including Glen Grant, Otto Witjes, Lena Dyring and Katrina Duka‑Gulbe, he explored how leadership expectations on shore can match real behavior on board. The panel highlighted the need for clear intent from leaders and consistent example in daily practice. It also underlined how important it is to create conditions where crews can act according to shared values, even when they work under pressure.
A key message of the conference was the need to shift the industry mindset. Companies must move from pure compliance toward a deeper understanding of human behavior. They should go from managing processes to genuinely supporting people, and from reacting to incidents to building a proactive culture of care. OJ Crew Group values the chance to join these discussions and stays committed to safer, more resilient maritime operations built around people. To learn more about our work and values, visit our Company page.
More about the Novikontas People Conference is available on the official event page: https://novikontas.org/people_conference
