A state-of-the-art review on crew competence in maritime and nuclear remote operations

The global maritime shipping sector accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response to climate concerns, the maritime industry is increasingly pursuing technological solutions to reduce emissions. This study is part of the Nuclear Propulsion for Merchant Shipping II (NuProShipII) initiative, which explores small modular reactor (SMR) fuel alternatives for deep-sea vessel propulsion to replace fossil-fuel–based systems and reduce CO2 emissions. The preceding NuProShipI project identified a potential need for remote operations conducted from geographically distributed onshore locations, as technological advances may reduce the need for onboard crews to maintain competencies for all potential operational contingencies. This raises questions regarding the competencies required of offshore, onshore, and remote personnel involved in nuclear-powered maritime operations, making more established remote-operation domains valuable sources of insight. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to explore how operator competence in remote operations is described and conceptualized across the nuclear and maritime domains. Methodologically, the study draws on a scoping review followed by a systematic literature review of relevant research in these fields. The findings reveal that both domains view operator competence as embedded within context-sensitive operational systems but differ in their conceptual emphasis: maritime literature highlights functional and cognitive competence, whereas nuclear literature emphasizes social competence. Through these findings, this study provides insights for future research on the competency requirements for SMR-powered merchant shipping by indicating the need for a practice-oriented, holistic understanding of competence.