1-447 The first stage is for the ship manager to define clearly the tasks to be undertaken and the level of competency required. This could be at the supervisor or management level. If it is at the supervisory level, the period ashore may well detrimentally affect the seafarer's progress towards his or her higher competencies and this will need careful consideration. The period ashore may also give the seafarer an early taste for life ashore and this is a risk that the ship manager will have to assess; the possibility for a structured career path might go some way towards countering this. Finally, an advantage of this approach is that the seafarer will begin to develop an understanding of the ship's management team. Futhermore, the secondments need not just be from ship to shore office, a period working on a project team for drydocking and newbuilding, as a cargo superintendent or on the company's audit team, are all potentially valuable assignments for both parties.