Human Factors Engineering For Maritime Systems

Abstract

The major challenges to maritime systems in the 1990's include: escalating operating costs; adaptation of advanced technology in an operational environment; and the high rate of human error as a cause of ship and port system accidents. Each of these challenges can be addressed by the discipline of Human Factors Engineering (HFE). The major component of maritime system operating costs is costs associated with personnel in the system. Operating costs can be significantly lowered through a system design approach that results in reductions in manning levels (and costs associated with system manpower), training time, system downtime, and accident rates. HFE is the formal discipline concerned with reducing manning with no adverse impact on human performance and safety. Application of HFE also results in increased efficiency in training, improved system availability, and reduced accident rates through reduced human error rates. HFE contributes to improved human performance in highly automated systems and enhances the interactions between the human and advanced technology Finally HFE results in reduced human error through application of HFE design standards, simulation and modeling of human tasks and workloads, and design to reduce both the incidence and the impact of human errors, thereby making systems error tolerant.