Identification of risk key factors and prevention strategies for collision accidents between merchant and fishing vessels in China waters based on complex network

Abstract

In recent years, Collision Accidents between Merchant and Fishing Vessels (CAMF) in China waters have been increasing, resulting in severe casualties and property losses. To effectively prevent such frequent collision accidents and ensure the safety of waterways and navigation routes, this study aims to identify the key risk factors associated with CAMF. Firstly, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) model is employed as a comprehensive framework to extract the risk factors contributing to CAMF. By introducing edge length as the weight of network edges, a directed weighted network of CAMF is constructed. Secondly, the overall topological characteristics of the network are analyzed, and the network's robustness is studied based on the degree centrality, weighted closeness centrality, and weighted betweenness centrality of the risk factors in the network, and the key factors contributing to the accidents are identified. The research findings indicate that the network exhibits evident scale-free characteristics and small-world network properties. Deliberate attacks on approximately top 15% of the risk factors lead to a 55% degradation in the global efficiency of the accident network. Ultimately, accident prevention and control strategies and recommendations are proposed from the perspectives of both merchant and fishing vessels.