Building Stronger Teams Through Learning, Leadership and Collaboration
From 7 to 9 May 2026, we successfully completed Optimum’s three-day crew seminar series—an initiative designed to strengthen teamwork, enhance leadership capabilities, and reinforce our commitment to continuous improvement across all ranks.
Day 1 – Ratings Seminar (7 May)
The first day was dedicated to our ratings, focusing on learning through engagement and interaction. The sessions created an open and positive environment where participants felt comfortable sharing their experiences, challenges, and insights from life at sea.
The feedback received was both honest and constructive, providing valuable input on onboard realities and helping us identify ways to better support our crews. A key highlight was the reinforcement of our 8 Leadership Behaviours, which continue to guide how we work, communicate, and collaborate across the fleet.
Days 2 & 3 – Officers Seminar (8–9 May)
The following two days were dedicated to our officers, with particular emphasis on interactive workshops and practical learning.
A central element of the program was the workshop on real operational failures, where officers openly discussed actual cases, analyzed root causes, and exchanged perspectives in a safe and constructive setting. These sessions were not about assigning blame, but about learning from experience and strengthening decision-making at all levels.
The workshops proved highly valuable, as they:
- Encouraged open dialogue and transparency
- Strengthened critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Promoted shared learning across vessels and departments
- Reinforced a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
By learning from real scenarios and from each other, officers were able to turn challenges into practical lessons that can be applied on board, ultimately enhancing safety, leadership, and operational performance.
Recognizing Excellence: STI MODEST
We are proud to recognize STI MODEST, awarded as the first vessel worldwide in 2025 among over 4,000 participating ships for its consistent and accurate reporting to NOAA.
Master Eldrige Corpuz and Chief Officer Maria Zouridaki received the award on behalf of the entire bridge team. Their dedication plays a vital role in promoting safer seas for all.
These three days reaffirmed the strength of our people, the value of open communication, and—most importantly—the impact of structured workshops and shared learning among our officers.
Investing in these sessions ensures that experience is continuously transformed into knowledge, and knowledge into better decisions at sea. We look forward to continuing this journey—learning, improving, and growing together.
– Paolo Chilemme
