Beyond Availability: A Digital Twin-Based Competency Matching Framework for Maritime Crew Assignment Under Operational Uncertainty

Maritime crew assignment decisions are traditionally based on rank requirements, certificate validity, contract availability, and regulatory compliance. However, operational experience indicates that assigning an available and certified seafarer does not necessarily guarantee operational suitability. Differences in vessel-specific experience, equipment familiarity, route knowledge, safety performance, multicultural adaptability, and operational competency can significantly influence onboard performance and operational risk. Despite its practical importance, competency mismatch remains largely underexplored in maritime crew management research. This study develops a digital twin-based competency matching framework for maritime crew assignment under operational uncertainty. The proposed framework represents each seafarer and vessel as a dynamic digital entity containing competency attributes, certification status, vessel-type experience, route familiarity, safety performance indicators, training history, operational specialization, and assignment readiness. A competency matching index is formulated to quantify the degree of alignment between crew capability profiles and vessel operational requirements. The framework integrates competency assessment, assignment suitability, operational risk exposure, and workforce availability into a unified decision-support model. A multi-criteria evaluation structure is developed using eight competency dimensions: technical expertise, vessel-type familiarity, equipment-specific knowledge, safety performance, route experience, emergency response capability, multicultural adaptability, and recent training performance. The model is tested using a dataset of ۱,۵۰۰ crew assignment records covering multiple vessel classes and operational environments. The results identify substantial variation in assignment suitability among seafarers holding equivalent ranks and certifications. The findings demonstrate that competency alignment significantly improves assignment quality and reduces operational exposure compared with traditional availability-based assignment approaches. The study contributes to maritime workforce management by introducing competency-based crew assignment as a measurable and optimizable decision problem. It also provides a practical foundation for integrating digital twin technology into next-generation maritime crewing systems, enabling shipping companies to improve operational readiness, workforce utilization, safety assurance, and assignment effectiveness without increasing staffing levels.

کلیدواژه ها:

Maritime crew assignment ، Competency matching ، Digital twin ، Crew management ، Workforce analytics ، Seafarer competency ، Crew allocation ، Assignment suitability ، Maritime human resource management ، Operational readiness