“What stuck with me was how important it is to connect with your stakeholders.” For Ruben van Selm, Venturn Young Professional, this insight became clear during the Port Constructor training. In a dynamic simulation game, he found out that sustainability in the maritime sector isn’t just about new fuels, but mostly about working together and communicating.
Sustainable choices in shipping
The training, given by Maurice Jansen, began with an introduction to the sustainability challenge in shipping. Maritime transport is responsible for approximately 3% of global emissions. This share makes sustainability in the sector an urgent challenge.
Participants learned how regulations and policy choices have been made, and which sustainable fuels are promising, such as LNG, ammonia, and methanol. Innovative options such as wind assistance and CO₂ storage on board were also discussed.
The game: Port Constructor
The participants then entered the simulation. In Port Constructor, teams took on the role of port or shipping company. Both parties had to make choices about investments in sustainable fuels. The challenge? Making immediate decisions without consultation, while the other team’s choices determined their success.
“If we as a port invested in LNG and the ships opted for methanol, they would not be able to sail, and our investment would be worthless. That forced us to learn to anticipate what the other party was doing and ultimately to engage in dialogue,” says Ruben.
The power of communication
For Ruben, the game became a mirror for practice. “When we did not have the opportunity to talk to the shipping companies, we noticed how difficult it became to make good choices. Ultimately, you are very dependent on each other. Without dialogue, it’s a gamble.”
That experience brought him back to the Negotiation & Conversation Techniques training course he had taken shortly before. “We learned that you have to look for what you want to achieve together. That came back perfectly here. You can only set a course when you understand each other.”
Learning through play
Ruben really experienced the benefits of learning through play during the training. “By the end, I had a much better understanding of the consequences of my choices for the rest of the sector. You can make a bad investment without consequences and still learn from it. That makes learning not only safer, but also more fun.”
The training allowed him to experience that stakeholder management is not a side issue, but a core condition for achieving sustainability in the sector.
Tips from Ruben
Ruben has two pieces of advice for future VYPs and anyone else who is interested:
Always keep the lines of communication open. “Make sure you know who depends on you and who you depend on. Only then can you really move forward together.”
Recognize the value of simulations. “Games allow you to experience which choices work and which don’t. You can then take that insight with you to your work.”
Looking ahead
Back at EG Group, Ruben wants to apply the insights he gained at Port Constructor immediately. Whether it concerns process optimization or larger strategic decisions, he knows that the key lies in people and collaboration. “Don’t forget anyone. You have to involve everyone who is relevant in order to arrive at a good solution.”
About the VYP traineeship
The Venturn Young Professional program is a two-year traineeship in which young talents take on challenging assignments in the maritime and logistics sector. In addition to practical experience, they receive an intensive training program focused on personal development, leadership, and the sector of tomorrow.
About Port Constructor
Erasmus UPT offers both students and professionals the opportunity to gain a better understanding of port management and development. To this end, the serious management game Port Constructor has been created to enrich the learning experience and thereby improve understanding. This tool can be used in educational programs and organizations. With a contribution from the Verolme Trust Foundation, Erasmus UPT recently developed the Mission Future of Fuels.
