The Influence of English Language Competence, Digital Literacy, Grit, and Technostress on Ship Crew Performance Mediated by Human Capital Capability

Crew performance determines the safety and operational efficiency of shipping companies, yet human factors remain the dominant cause of maritime accidents. This study aims to analyze the influence of English language competence, digital literacy, grit, and technostress on crew performance, with human capital capability serving as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing a survey of 316 seafarers from shipping companies in Indonesia, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS. The results indicate that: 1) English language competence has a positive and significant effect on human capital capability; 2) Digital literacy has a positive and significant effect on human capital capability; 3) Grit has a positive and significant effect on human capital capability; 4) Technostress does not have a significant effect on human capital capability; 5) English language competence does not have a significant effect on crew performance; 6) Digital literacy does not have a significant effect on crew performance; 7) Grit has a positive and significant effect on crew performance; 8) Technostress does not have a significant effect on crew performance; 9) Human capital capability has a positive and significant effect on crew performance; 10) Human capital capability fully mediates the effect of English language competence on crew performance; 11) Human capital capability fully mediates the effect of digital literacy on crew performance; 12) Human capital capability partially mediates the effect of grit on crew performance; 13) Human capital capability does not mediate the effect of technostress on crew performance. Shipping companies need to enhance crew performance by strengthening human capital capability through maritime English training, digital literacy development, and mental resilience building. The novelty of this study lies in examining human capital capability as a mediating mechanism among Indonesian seafarers.