Tag: human factor

Our special column focuses on resilience, a vital issue for shipping industry - and other industries as well - given that the human element lies at the heart of the safety culture. This time, we have asked global experts to provide feedback on how to successfully implement a resilient culture in the industry.

During his presentation at the SAFETY4SEA Cyprus conference, Sotiris Kambanellas, President, YoungShip Cyprus presented key issues with regards to crewing in the 21st century, considering how new technologies are impacting the global shipping industry.  In a constantly evolving world, even a more “traditional” industry like shipping is already changing.

Dubai-based port operator DP World partnered with US-based Virgin Hyperloop One to launch DP World Cargospeed, a new global company intended to provide hyperloop-enabled cargo systems to support the fast, sustainable and efficient delivery of palletised cargo. This is the first initiative of its kind in the world.

Capt. Yves Vandenborn, AFNI, Director of Loss Prevention at the Standard P&I Club, suggests focusing on resilience for the crew onboard rather than to competency only. This is the only way to understand the bigger picture and know how to respond to every situation.                           

Mr. Colin Gillespie, Deputy Director (Loss Prevention) at North P&I Club discusses the current and future challenges for shipping from the loss prevention perspective, highlighting what is required for keeping the right combination of knowledge, experience and attitude , thus having ‘the Right Crew’ onboard.

The official introduction of ECDIS in shipping industry helped solve many problems (paper work load, easy planning and monitoring, real time information availability etc) as well as created some, most of which are related to human behavior and the way ECDIS systems are used. To this effect, IMO issued performance standards for systems and training standards for seafarers. The STCW has been amended encouraging seafarers with bridge watch duties to be trained through the IMO model course 1.27 for Generic ECDIS training and becoming type familiar with the on-board system through a Company established procedure.

The marine transportation of containers is a complex operation, requiring close supervision from the moment the containers are taken until they are safely delivered to the receiver. As such, several claims are resulted from container trade, many of which could have been easily avoided had greater oversight and diligence been exercised.

Terms ‘remote-controlled’, ‘unmanned’, ‘automated’ and ‘autonomous’ have all been used when describing the new technology, but they all mean very different things. It is very possible that, in the future, vessels could be remote-controlled but still retain some onboard manning. Or perhaps they will be traditionally manned, where autonomous systems are used as a decision support tool.

Japan P&I Club released a report concerning ships and harbour accidents. It says that despite the fact that there were indications that such accidents are less, a recent slight increase made clear that more measures need to be taken. The report also says that the main cause in the majority of the accidents is the human element.

Shipping industry needs to abandon old-fashioned structures and adapt to the realities of the modern world and the demands of the next generation, argued Frank Coles, CEO, Transas during Transas Global Conference in Vancouver last week. A significant progress in maritime technology was noted in the last 12 months, but real change is yet to come, he added.