Crew members are prone to many distractions onboard; from a complex navigation bridge to high workloads while navigating their vessel through busy shipping lanes. Analysis of maritime accident reports shows that situational awareness is one of the most important safety factors, highlighting never to relax our vigilance when onboard.
Analysis of accidents at sea that involve loss of life have highlighted the following distractions:
#1 Using personal mobile devices whilst on duty
Talking on cell phones can have serious consequences in safety-critical situations, and sending or reading text messages is potentially even more distracting
#2 Multi-tasking while on watch
Engaging in tasks other than vessel operation affects performance
#3 Music on the bridge throughout the watch
If the listening of music while on watch is accepted onboard, instructions should be promulgated to watchkeeping officers.
#4 Work load and paperwork
Crew members are front with a large amount of form-filling and record keeping being a part of today’s culture; a person onboard dedicated to such duties would ease the burden
#5 Attentional disengagement or mind wandering
Mind wandering or ‘zoning out’ can occur in situations where tasks are protracted, unvarying, familiar, repetitive or undemanding.
Reports from The Nautical Institute, Maritime CHIRP, UK MAIB, NTSB and ATSB include lessons learned from accidents due to poor situational awareness. Keep in mind that this is a skill that can be improved through mentoring and practice. Experience is key to making sense of your environment and making good decisions.
Hello,
Situational awereness was the biggest problem when ı was superintendent while visiting the vessel for the accident investigation.
I can add one more item to all above. The biggest mistake is over confidence to navigational aids such as ECDIS and RADAR zones andthen release the senses.
New generation are very good to use Electronics but they are not well aware the bridge is not a playstation.
Expereinced seniors always should remind to juniors to use all senses watching eyes, smelling nose, hearing ears , using brain than getting support from navigational aids.
brgds
Capt. Erkan Dogruyol
Dear Erkan,
Overconfidence of ECDIS and radar can be overcome by training. Officers who have been given appropriate training on the use of their Nav Aids will know the limitations of their bridge equipment.
Lack of skills in using bridge equipment is a common factor raised in accident investigations and also port state controls, which is seen as a fault by the ship management company in not providing required training.
Hello
I totally agree with the idea that the new crews who are fanatical about technology forget to carry out permanent physical and personalized surveillance in a traffic zone. There are situations in which technology does not help in time and form to make the decision at the right time for the maneuver.
Captain Alejandro Garcia