Why it matters
Clear communication is already central to safety at sea, from bridge resource management and engine room resource management to permits to work and the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases. Communicating in ways that work for neurodivergent people simply makes those good habits stronger.
- Tired
- after a long watch, everyone processes information more slowly
- Multilingual
- many crews work in a second or third language
- Noisy
- alarms, engines and radios compete for attention
When people are tired, stressed, working in a second language or in a noisy space, clear communication helps everyone, neurodivergent or not.
Spoken instructions
Instead of
- ”Sort that valve out.”
- Three instructions in one breath
- ”Give me a ballpark figure."
- "Got it?” “Yep."
- "That’ll be fun,” said sarcastically
Try
- ”Close valve 12 on the port fuel line now.”
- One step, a pause, then the next
- ”Give me a rough estimate, to the nearest tonne."
- "Tell me what you’re going to do.”
- Saying what you actually mean
Closed-loop communication
Closed-loop communication is a simple, proven way to prevent misunderstandings:
Send
Give the instruction clearly, using the person's name.
Repeat back
The person repeats the instruction in their own words.
Confirm
You confirm it's correct, or correct it.
Report
The person reports when it's done.
Written information
Good written information helps people with dyslexia and other SpLDs, people working in a second language, and anyone reading at 0300.
- Use plain English and short sentences.
- Put the most important information first.
- Use headings, numbered steps and bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
- Add diagrams, photos or annotated drawings where they help.
- Use a clear sans-serif font, at least 12pt, and avoid large blocks of capitals, italics or underlining.
- Use bold for emphasis, sparingly.
- Make digital documents work with text-to-speech.
Handovers
A good handover is structured and written down, so nothing depends on memory:
- Use a standard checklist or template.
- Point out anything that has changed since the last watch.
- Highlight anything unusual to watch for, and what to do if it happens.
- Leave time for questions.
- Confirm the handover is complete.
Briefings and meetings
- Share an agenda in advance if you can, and say how long it will last.
- Explain the purpose at the start.
- Invite questions in more than one way, including afterwards, in private or in writing.
- Summarise key decisions and actions in writing afterwards.
- Don’t ask someone to take notes or read aloud without checking first.
Feedback
Be direct, specific and kind. Explain what happened, why it matters, and what to do differently, without blame.
Many neurodivergent people have had years of criticism. Clear, balanced, private feedback builds trust, and makes it far more likely to be acted on.