It’s a source of curiosity, if not puzzlement. Despite tighter regulations, stricter inspection regimes, increased training requirements and more advanced ship technologies, we are not seeing a stop to marine accidents that, on hindsight, could have easily been prevented. Safety and training gurus keep drumming on the need to cultivate a safety culture, and many shipping operators, for sure, are heeding the message. But it seems the roots of that culture aren’t spreading wider and deeper enough to become part of the very psyche of those who own the ships and those who man them.
Could the problem be that the shipping world has adopted a mechanical approach to the whole issue — too much emphasis laid on systems and procedures and too little on their why and wherefore? Are seafarers being made to undergo more and more training in the hope that they would behave in certain predictable ways like Pavlov’s dog? Doesn’t the culture of safety come back to the question of values? And aren’t those values being eroded by the commercialism that is gripping many by the neck — shipowners who cut corners to reduce costs, maritime schools that exist mainly for profit and seafarers who only want to earn a living but have no real love for the life at sea?
Whatever the answers, it’s time that the traditional approaches to marine safety issues were reviewed by the international regulators and the shipping community at large. Let us have, for instance, a more serious investigation into the psychological factors that contribute to marine accidents. What goes on in the mind of a seafarer who is about to commit a fatal mistake? Time, too, for values education being made part of seafarers’ education. And lastly, more shipping companies should adopt a rewards system to encourage greater safety consciousness and safety compliance. Pavlovian as it sounds, propagating a culture of safety requires both carrot and stick.
Thank You, Barista, Great ideas you’ve got there. I absolutely agree,
Many good points.
May we ask: Leadership & Emotional Intelligence?
Dear Barista,
I fully agree with and endorse your views. We all have the experience that an increase of regulations does not reduce human errors. It is indeed a mental condition of the man responsible and in command. It is therefore that I on several occasions have promoted the idea that candidate captains and chief officers should be extensively psychologically tested before they are put in these responsible positions.
I see at least three issues you mention:
1. Increase of regulations
2. Mechanical approach to the whole issue
3. Maritime schools that exist mainly for profit
You also mention values. In my opinion that adds up to a lot of accidents caused by human error.
Link to an article in TugOSV about more mindful approaches (as opposed to mechanistic) to embedding safety as an important component of whole organization culture.
Here is the link to the article Iain refers to: http://www.bluestreamconsulting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TugOSV-Article-Blue-Stream-Consulting.pdf
Thanks very much indeed. Interesting.
The points made are good ones. However, the attempts to increase safety have led to more paper work for the ship’s staff which can have an adverse effect. Perhaps the officers’ burden of having to submit ever increasing reports etc. needs to be looked at.
Six months later, from my initial comment herewith, surprisingly I note a bare minimum number of comments to such a most interesting and absolutely perfectly presented subject.
Not fair play by the LinkedIn ‘big guns’ or else?
Barista,
“If a man is a gentleman what he knows is enough for him; if he isn’t, what he knows is bad for him”.
Enough of regulations and tick-boxes.
Emphasis on soft ware – continuous character development.
Responsibility mingled with harmony on-board.
Leadership skills.
Nicholas
PS. For more info please join my group”‘Why Do Competent Seafarers Make Errors?”
Thank you for your hospitality.
Thank you for your kind words, Nicholas. Your invitation to join your LinkedIn group is warmly accepted.
most accidents happened due to fatigue, seafarers now a days so much loaded with paper works and shortage of manpower. in most container vessel all deck officer dont have enough rest due to very fast turn around and vessel manager keep sending job order to their ships staff just to show that they are experts. all this things contribute to fatigue.