Tag: human factor

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has decided to initiate a review of the STCW Convention and Code that will go through several phases, with a view to be completed by the autumn of 2027.

To align seafarer training, certification, and watchkeeping with evolving trends in the shipping industry and to tackle various challenges encountered by seafarers, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has decided to initiate a thorough examination and update of the STCW Convention and Code.

In an industry where safety is paramount, mentoring can play a crucial role in helping individuals in the shipping industry develop a broad range of skills, from technical skills related to navigation and other shipboard operations to soft skills like communication, leadership, and problem-solving.

When the brain does not rest properly, you are vulnerable to the dangerous phenomenon of “microsleep”. If that doesn't sound dangerous to you, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) can present an example, as a captain’s microsleep was deemed the reason behind a vessel grounding in July 2022.

A Human Factors approach can generate general guidance that would be applicable to numerous ship bridge and equipment designs. Overall, Human Factors can help to maximise the safety impact of safety lessons learned the hard way via incidents and accidents.

In observance of World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10th, the Human Rights At Sea (HRAS) released a statement emphasizing the need to combat stigma around mental health and drawing attention to the continuing global challenge of suicide.

During the 2023 SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum, Capt. George Mavrogenis, Marine Manager, Latsco Marine Management Inc., noted that although the increase in technology, the principles of safe navigation remain the same and the human factor a top priority.

The 2023 SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum took place on 4th of October 2023, at Eugenides Foundation, Athens, focusing on key safety issues and trends concerning the human factor, as new technology emerges and impacts seafarers’ life and work onboard ships.

Kunal Pathak, Loss Prevention Manager, Asia at Gard P&I Club, highlights that the industry needs to change mindset, switching from the typical blame culture to safety learning through incidents and human errors.

It is difficult to have a Safety Culture and an effective Safety Learning Culture when it is believed that only seafarers make mistakes of any consequence.