The University of Strathclyde is appealing to ship operators, safety professionals and accident investigators to make better use of the Safety Human Incident & Error Learning Database (SHIELD), so that the maritime industry can build up a clearer picture of the role that human factors play in maritime incidents.
SHIELD was originally launched in 2022 as part of the EU’s SAFEMODE project. SAFEMODE was initiated to create a human risk-informed design (HURID) framework to identify, collate and assess human risk factors data, which could then be used to inform future risk-based design and operations in both the maritime transport and aviation sectors.
The SAFEMODE project partners, including the University of Strathclyde, found that more than 80% of maritime casualties and incidents logged between 2014-2021 were attributable to human error.
Human element in marine casualties
EMSA in its Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents 2024, which presents statistics on marine casualties and incidents highlighted that from 2014 to 2023:
- 58.4% of accident events were linked to human action, and
- 49.8% of contributing factors were related to human behavior.
When combined, the human element accounted for 80.1% of investigated casualties and incidents.
SHIELD was thus intended to operate as an open repository for this safety data. However, Dr Rafet Emek Kurt, head of the university’s Maritime Human Factors Centre (and leader of the SHIELD development for maritime) has announced that more data is required if SHIELD is to successfully influence future ship design, equipment design and maritime safety policy.
While conceding that SHIELD is currently being used by “major cruise lines, a UK-based ferry operator, safety agencies in Europe and Asia, and a number of accident investigation boards”, Kurt believes there is still a shortfall of incoming, relevant data – and especially data related to the root causes of human factor-related incidents.
“So far, in the absence of high-quality data, the maritime sector has failed to include human factor considerations in critical decision making,” Kurt says. “As a result, envisaged safety improvements from the sector have been ineffective, with accidents continuing to occur at a steady rate after.”
This “high-quality data” should be used to develop new accident and risk models, Kurt believes.
We continue to overload the seafarer with more safety procedures, more checklists, more training. This is largely ineffective in reducing human factor incidents, and increases the cognitive load on the seafarer. We need to address the root cause of an accident to have any meaningful impact.
… Kurt explains.
