What a Good Shift Looks Like
You can tell within half an hour.
There’s a certain rhythm to a good shift. The kind that doesn’t need raised voices or micromanagement. Where tools get laid out properly, tasks start without fuss, and if something unexpected crops up; which it always does; nobody flinches. That rhythm is built long before anyone clocks in. It’s in the briefings, the prep, the way techs check the drawings the night before instead of winging it. But mostly, it’s in the people.
At Terra Mechanica Maris, we work in environments where “getting it wrong” can mean downtime, lost contracts, or serious injury. So I don’t look for perfect; I look for consistent. A good shift is full of small, unspoken wins.
A mechanic quietly checking torque settings without being asked.
A fitter re-routing hoses because the drawing doesn’t match the reality on deck.
Someone sweeping out the mess room before breakfast, not because they’re told to, but because it sets the tone.
It’s that kind of pride that makes the difference between a crew and a group of workers.
It’s Not About Heroics
You don’t need heroes. You need people who turn up ready, who listen, and who trust each other. If you’re stuck with a hydraulic fault at 3am and the wind’s kicking up, it’s not the loudest guy on the shift who helps you; it’s the one who took notes during the toolbox talk and has the spares pre-staged in the crate.
It’s easy to spot the shifts where things go wrong. Panic, blame, short tempers, tools scattered, people hanging around unsure of what they’re supposed to be doing. But those are symptoms. The root cause is usually something basic: bad planning, unclear leadership, or egos in the way.
Leadership Sets the Tone
I’ve learned that when a shift goes well, it’s not just down to the crew. Leadership matters. If the plan isn’t clear, if the scope keeps changing, or if you throw your team under the bus at the first hiccup; you’ll never build the kind of trust that sustains performance offshore.
A good shift starts before the first spanner is turned:
Clear TBTs where people actually ask questions.
Realistic expectations; not paper plans that fall apart the second wind picks up.
And respect. Mutual respect, from the top down and back up again.
The Little Things That Matter
Sometimes it’s as simple as lads asking, “What’s next?” instead of standing about. Or noticing that a bolt’s been galling before it snaps. Or helping another team out even when it’s not your job, because you know they’ll do the same for you tomorrow.
That’s what we’re trying to build at Terra. Not just jobs done; but jobs done well, by people who care enough to get it right without needing to be watched.
Final Thought
A good shift doesn’t always get a pat on the back. Often, it just ends with tools cleaned, gear stowed properly, and nobody needing to write an incident report. But in this line of work, that’s a win. A big one.
And if we string enough of those together?
That’s how you build something worth being proud of.