Limiting Ship Accidents by Identifying Their Causes and Determining Barriers to Application of Preventive Measures

Chong-Ju Chae,Suk Young Kang,Kyung Hwan Kim

doi:10.3390/jmse9030302

Abstract

When analyzing ship accidents, there may be doubts whether appropriate countermeasures had been taken to prevent known types of accidents. This study aimed to suggest possible solutions by investigating the status and issues associated with the implementation of countermeasures using importance–performance analysis (IPA), Borich’s needs assessment, and locus for focus models based on previously identified causes of the ship accidents. As a result, firstly, we confirmed that there is a need to enhance education and training on specific knowledge, understanding, and proficiency (KUP) regarding ship stability, emergency response, and type specific training. Secondly, we confirmed that there is a need for a system of monitoring a seafarer’s KUP even while onboard a vessel—that is, after completion of identified training. Additionally, it is necessary to improve the seafarers’ working environment, which is subject to regulations. Thirdly, difficulties in solving wrong practice parts of safety and efficiency, such as the costs associated with implementation of safety regulations, were identified as the main reasons for the causes of the “not amended yet” sector after accidents. Lastly, the tools that were employed in this analysis can be used to confirm the implementation status of the actions to be taken after a ship accident.

Highlights

There is significant interest in understanding the technical causes of ship accidents, as well as understanding the human factors that can cause them
In response to these causes, an amendment was made after the accident with a focus on strengthening the overall emergency response ability of the crew working on the passenger ships, such as the addition of emergency familiarization training for passenger ships [44,45,65]
“cancelling automated alarms” and 18 represents “cognitive hysteresis or psychological fixation”. Both the items do not belong to the first quadrant, in which the items that belong to the same set of human factors are from the importance–performance analysis (IPA)

Summary

Introduction

There is significant interest in understanding the technical causes of ship accidents, as well as understanding the human factors that can cause them. The approach to studying these causes was recently expanded to address the issues related to seafarers’. A variety of methods to determine the causality of accidents have been developed and discussed, ship accidents with previously identified causes have continued to occur. Such incidents lead us to question whether the identified known causes of ship accidents are properly reflected and addressed by the maritime industry. The amendment of International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions and practical application of relevant laws in their respective countries need to be considered based on the identified ship accident causes. More than 100 years after the Titanic disaster, the accident involving

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Conclusion