The Gap Between Knowing & Doing – A Lesson for Shipping Professionals

 ⚓ The Gap Between Knowing & Doing – A Lesson for Shipping Professionals

🌊 Introduction

In shipping, just like in life, knowledge is everywhere – manuals, circulars, training modules, mentors, and even WhatsApp groups. But let’s be honest: how many times do we actually apply what we learn?

A seafarer may know every safety checklist by heart but forget to double-check a valve in real life. A chartering executive may attend ten webinars on “market trends” but fail to pick up the phone and negotiate.

Friends, the sea teaches us one timeless truth: knowing is not enough, only doing makes the difference. Let’s explore how we, as shipping professionals, can cross this gap and turn our knowledge into action that brings real results at sea and beyond. 🚢✨

 

1️⃣ Knowledge Alone is Not Power – Action Is Power

On board, every officer knows how to calculate trim and stability. But when the vessel is alongside, cargo is rushing, and time is short, it’s the one who acts with discipline who saves the day.

📚 Knowledge is like charts stored in ECDIS. They are potential energy. But unless the navigator uses them in real-time with judgment, accidents can still happen.

👉 Remember: Even limited knowledge, when acted upon with discipline, is more powerful than unlimited knowledge lying idle.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A junior deck officer who sincerely checks mooring lines before departure adds more value than a senior officer who only “knows” the hazards but doesn’t act.

🔑 Hashtag: #ActionOverKnowledge #ShipOpsInsights #MaritimeWisdom

 

2️⃣ Resistance – The Silent Enemy of Action

Resistance in shipping looks like this: “Let’s check the system later, we’re too busy now.” Or “I’ll speak to the port agent tomorrow.”

😣 The truth is, resistance always shows up when something really matters. We delay, we overthink, or we escape into “studying more.”

But just like ballast water, resistance must be pumped out before the voyage begins.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A superintendent postpones sending an important update to charterers, fearing mistakes. But the delay causes confusion. Once he breaks resistance and sends a clear note, the problem is solved.

🔑 Hashtag: #BeatResistance #MaritimeLeadership #ShipOpsInsights

 

3️⃣ Fear & Comfort Zone

🛑 Comfort zone at sea is dangerous. Imagine a watchkeeper who never challenges his skills because “nothing ever happens.” Or a young operator who avoids calling brokers out of fear of rejection.

A ship at anchor feels safe, but it is not built to stay there. Growth, promotions, and real progress happen when you sail out into open waters — despite storms.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A cadet afraid to take bridge watch learns faster once he dares to take responsibility under guidance. Fear slowly turns into confidence.

🔑 Hashtag: #StepOutOfComfortZone #MaritimeCourage #ShipOpsInsights

 

4️⃣ Perfectionism – The Trap That Freezes You

In shipping, waiting for “perfect conditions” is often a recipe for delay. ⚓

🎯 The truth is: you can’t wait for the weather to be perfect before you sail. You take precautions, and then you depart.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A DPA (Designated Person Ashore) may delay implementing a safety campaign until every detail is polished. Another company launches an imperfect but practical campaign — and saves lives immediately.

👉 Remember: Imperfect action is safer than perfect inaction.

🔑 Hashtag: #ProgressOverPerfection #MaritimeSafety #ShipOpsInsights

 

5️⃣ Overconsumption of Information

📺 In today’s maritime world, we have endless circulars, advisories, YouTube channels, and WhatsApp groups. But information overload leads to confusion and no action.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A port captain reads 20 articles on new IMO rules but never applies even one small change in operations. Another captain reads one circular and implements it immediately — making his vessel compliant.

👉 The sea rewards action, not information hoarding.

🔑 Hashtag: #LessConsumptionMoreExecution #ShipOpsInsights #MaritimeGrowth

 

6️⃣ Rituals & Consistency

Motivation may fade after a few days at sea. But discipline — the habit of doing things daily — is what builds strong seafarers and successful ship operators. 🔁

✅ Shipping-Life Example: A chief engineer who checks machinery daily at fixed hours prevents breakdowns. A company that maintains daily ops review avoids costly mistakes. Small rituals compound into excellence.

🔑 Hashtag: #ConsistencyWins #ShipOpsInsights #MaritimeDiscipline

 

7️⃣ Execution Mindset

🚀 Shipping is a 24/7 business. If you don’t execute, you lose. Thinking, planning, and meetings are important, but only action moves cargo and keeps vessels running.

✅ Shipping-Life Example: Two operators know a vessel will face bad weather. One keeps “discussing options.” The other immediately arranges bunkers and weather routing. Who do you think saves money and reputation?

👉 Remember: Ideas don’t move ships. Execution does.

🔑 Hashtag: #ExecutionMindset #MaritimeLeadership #ShipOpsInsights

 

🌟 Closing Mentor Note

Dear shipping professionals, the world no longer rewards just knowing. It rewards those who act. Don’t wait for perfect knowledge, don’t get trapped in resistance or perfectionism, and don’t drown in information.

👉 At sea and in life, execution is everything. Start small, act today, and watch your career — and your ship — move forward.

🔥 “Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.” – Benjamin Disraeli

 

✅ CTA
If this blog inspired you, share it with your colleagues, drop your thoughts in the comments, and follow ShipOpsInsights with Dattaram for more wisdom on shipping and life. Together, let’s build a stronger, smarter, and more positive maritime community. 🌍⚓