UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued the second Safety Digest of 2024 featuring a collection of lessons learned from latest marine accidents involving vessels from the merchant, fishing and recreational sectors.
As explained UK MAIB, the sole purpose of the Safety Digest is to prevent similar accidents from happening again. The Safety Digest examines and investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide, and other vessels in UK territorial waters.
The publication aims to draw the attention of the marine community to some of the lessons arising from investigations into recent accidents and incidents. It contains information that has been determined up to the time of issue.
Purpose of the Safety Digest
In the introduction to the second MAIB Safety Digest of 2024, Andrew Moll OBE, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, expressed gratitude to the guest writers Jeremy Dale, Robert Greenwood, and Samantha Ward for their contributions to the merchant, fishing, and recreational sections of this edition. He noted that each of them brings valuable expertise to the table, and their insights into safety provide contemporary context to the cautionary tales presented in the following pages.
Moll encouraged readers to take the time to explore the entire edition, emphasizing that there is something beneficial for every mariner. He also urged readers to engage with the section introductions and to share the digest with others once they have finished.
Evolving safety standards
Additionally, Moll highlighted Jeremy Dale’s observation that safety has significantly evolved since the beginning of his career in the industry. He pointed out that tools such as risk assessments, toolbox talks, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are genuine attempts to enhance safety, ensuring that everyone can return home intact at the end of their trips.
Safety as a priority
However, Moll also referenced Dale’s concern regarding the prevailing “It won’t happen to me” attitude, noting that this mindset often leads to complacency. Furthermore, he acknowledged that, in the Efficiency-Thoroughness Trade-Off, safe behaviours frequently become early casualties.
Events have consequences, and a good safety culture starts with everyone taking responsibility for their decisions and actions, and the possible outcomes. As you read the articles in this digest, once you are over that sense of smug self-satisfaction at others’ misfortunes, ask yourself whether, in similar circumstances, you would have made safer choices.
… said Andrew Moll. On the subject of marine accidents, in an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Andrew Moll had explained that there are three parts to every accident. These are the period prior to the event, which is usually when the pre-conditions for the accident are set; the trigger event itself, when it all goes wrong; and, the aftermath or how it was dealt with.
