by Capt. Michalis Fragkias*
In modern times, the study and understanding of the human factor is a critical element for any human professional activity, especially in conditions that may involve risk, complexity and where high levels of safety are required.
In this spirit, the shipping industry also deals with the human factor or human error,which according to statistics contributes to approximately 80% of maritime accidents. However, there is an increasingly urgent need to see and examine, not only the human factor in general but mainly the person who lives and works on merchant ships, THE SEAMAN FACTOR!
The term Human Factor has been established internationally and concerns the systematic investigation of how people interact with systems, cultures, technologies, processes and organizational structures, with the aim of improving their performance, health, safety, work efficiency and well-being.
As far as commercial shipping is concerned, there is an urgent need to develop the more specialized term “ Seaman “ Factor”! This term must include and highlight the significant differences and particularities presented by the human factor, human nature and behavior, when it concerns exclusively seafarers (men and women) who, as crew members, man merchant ships, experiencing the special and exhausting working conditions and the dangers of the marine environment.
I personally, for some time now and after over 60 years of experience at sea, have introduced, used and analyzed the term, Seaman. Factor, whenever and wherever I am given the opportunity, because I have been and still, at this advanced age, I feel that I am a Seaman. This is how I feel, regardless of the positions or ranks I served on the ships and in the maritime activities ashore in my own, personal sea voyage, which I had the good fortune and blessing to make in a large Greek traditional shipping company!
We can accept that, the term Seaman Factor refers to a set of factors that shape the safety, performance, well-being and ultimately the effectiveness of the seafarer in the demanding and peculiar environment of commercial shipping. It is a multidimensional and complex concept, as it connects elements of human-centered action, management, psychology, vocational training, teamwork and organizational behavior.
Although the two concepts have a common basis, they are quite different, as the maritime profession is characterized by uniqueness, isolation, multiculturalism, particular psychological burden and increased operational and work demands.
Exploring these differences is a key step in understanding the functioning of the human factor in commercial shipping, with the goal of developing strategies and conditions that aim to improve safety on ships and the efficient operation of vital maritime transport, as reported by major oil companies Flawless Operations.
The Seaman Factor describes how the physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive, cultural and social characteristics of the seafarer affect the daily work on board the ship. It includes not only professional knowledge (hard skills), individual abilities, personal skills (the so-called soft skills), but also living conditions, the quality of leadership and management, the work culture, interpersonal relationships on board and external factors related to family life, social support and working conditions.
The seafarer, as a professional, is faced with unique challenges that are not found in any other work environment, such as isolation, limited contact with the natural social environment, dependence on individual and group psychology, long-term absence from family, high level of responsibility, intense fatigue and dealing with emergency situations as well as weather and climate changes. All these challenges compose the concept of Seaman Factor and differentiate the person who works as a seaman on merchant ships from any other profession.
Merchant shipping, as one of the most demanding and strategically important industries worldwide, is essentially based on human resources. It must be fully understood that it is not the ships that transport products, goods and the necessary energy sources to all parts of the planet, but rather the seafarers who work on the ships. And despite the huge technological leaps, the modernization of ships and the development of automated ship and cargo control and management systems, the human element remains crucial for the operation, safety and success of every voyage
Despite the large package of regulations and procedures, the corrective and preventive measures that the shipping industry has taken (always after a major accident) and the related training, human errors still occur and as already mentioned, are responsible for almost 80% of shipping accidents.
Emphasizing the Seaman Factor, we attempt to understand not only the mistakes, but also the characteristics that lead to success, resilience, the ability to make good decisions and effective risk management on board.
The practical application of the Seaman Factor concept concerns the selection of sufficiently qualified, competent and adequately experienced crews, with continuous professional training, development of well-being programs, adaptation of work procedures, psychological support, policies and ethical values of the company or organization.
A properly trained seafarer is expected to possess mental toughness, physical endurance and, if supported by an organized management system, can contribute significantly to the safety of the crew, cargo and environment and to the efficient operation of the ship.
One of the most crucial elements that differentiates the term Seaman Factor from the general Human Factor, or as we will see later, Human Error by Seaman Error, is the psychological state of the seafarer. Long periods of isolation limited personal space, psychological and work pressure, the different cultural and religious backgrounds of the crew members, as well as the responsibility for the safety of the ship, compose an environment that can lead to mental and physical fatigue, anxiety or even depression.
It should be noted that in recent years, shipping companies, having now recognized that mental health is just as important as physical health, have adopted specialized programs, such as psychological support, wellness programs and training in soft skills. Skills to enhance communication and problem / conflict management. Soft skills that are adapted to the maritime profession and are aimed at seafarers and not at bank employees.
It must be taken seriously that the crew of a ship is international and completely diverse in terms of professionalism, skills, experience and personal perceptions. Effective cooperation in such an environment requires leadership skills, communication skills, empathy, understanding, tolerance, development of a safety culture and teamwork. Safety culture, discipline and trust in leadership and management are vital components of Seaman Factor, as the way the crew interacts can enhance or undermine safety and the overall operation of the ship.
Working on board a ship is physically tiring, requiring absolute concentration and constant vigilance (Situational Awareness. Factors such as night watch, maintenance and repairs at sea, as well as exposure to adverse weather and climate conditions, noise, vibrations, etc., negatively affect the human body. Accumulated stress and fatigue are among the most common problems that can significantly reduce performance and safety.
The shipping industry is trying to address these factors with fatigue management regulations and strategies, proper allocation of crew positions, ergonomic design of living and working spaces, and by providing adequate nutrition, exercise, and recreation.
The shipping industry is run by people. People design ships, build them, legislate them, manage them, man them and maintain them. And while people are completely different from each other, they have something in common! People are never error-free and, almost everyone tends to circumvent or bypass, to a greater or lesser extent, regulations and safety measures.
Personal safety is a package of methods, tools, instructions and equipment that seafarers can and must adopt to avoid danger in the workplace. Regulations, codes and other related preventive and defensive measures, although necessary, do not contribute to safety by themselves. Greater improvement can only be achieved if each employee puts their own safety and that of others above all else! To achieve this, the rules and all preventive measures must be strictly and meticulously applied, always and under any circumstances!
The findings are disappointing regarding the implementation of safety measures by crews on board ships! And one big WHY remains unanswered! Why do qualified, experienced and adequately trained seafarers not implement existing safety measures?
Actions and decisions caused by the human factor and human error are usually the result of stressful working conditions, ineffective protective measures, poor quality supplies and the low level of safety culture that management has.
As already mentioned, it is widely accepted that most accidents in shipping are caused by human error. If we examine it more deeply, we will see that the normally expected human error is completely different when compared to the error made by the seafarer.
The mistakes made by the seafarer, most of the time, are a result of stressful work factors and conditions that contribute to an accident (the so-called error enforcing conditions). To compare a common human error with an error made by the Master or another crew member, we must understand and realize that:
“There is no other human professional activity in which 20-25 people are expected to strictly comply with a large volume of regulations and requirements, under extremely adverse conditions and for long periods of time, in a very dangerous environment”.
(This can only be understood by anyone who has lived and worked on a merchant ship)
In general, people fail for reasons related to their culture, mental health and fatigue. In recent years, there has been a consistent trend that most accidents are due to non-technical causes such as insufficient professionalism, bad decisions and addiction.
Seafarer errors are omissions and unsafe actions or conditions where applicable regulations or the company’s existing preventive measures are not applied. There are many conscious omissions which can cause accidents!
Crews tend to behave in an inappropriate manner during routine or emergency situations. Despite significant technological developments and training provided to improve crew professionalism to reduce unpleasant incidents, seafarers tend not to comply with existing preventive measures due to limited capabilities and human nature.
The challenges and risks faced by people in shipping are numerous and have significant impacts on their mental and physical health. The demanding working conditions test the endurance, psychology and skills of workers.
Seafarers are called upon almost daily to manage and cope with adverse weather conditions, such as heavy seas, storms and extreme temperatures. These conditions increase risk levels and affect the safety of the crew and the ship.
Fatigue is perhaps the biggest risk for seafarers, as watches are long and working hours are often irregular, disrupting their natural sleep cycle and affecting their health. Fatigue reduces their ability to make good decisions, increasing the risk of accidents.
In general, people make mistakes and like to take risks. Seafarers under this very stressful work environment and the many jobs or simultaneous operations that must be done every day, are forced to take more risks. Most of the time, seafarers deviate from safety procedures to get the job done faster. Taking risks on board a ship, for whatever reason, is completely different from taking risks in other activities on land.
Such behaviors are usually repetitive (Complacency) and unfortunately are tolerated by ineffective supervision and leadership. The big problem is that some mistakes have such devastating consequences, including loss of life, that they must be foreseen and appropriate measures must be in place to prevent them from happening.
Good shipping companies have realized that they need a sufficiently qualified, well-trained and dedicated crew and their management system has been adapted accordingly, to be able to meet these requirements effectively. In addition, they have systems and working conditions in place that help to prevent errors and unsafe behaviors in the workplace. Without a good and effective crew, it is impossible to meet the large number of demands of the shipping industry.
To achieve full implementation of safety procedures, objectives and critical factors of a well-structured management system, one magic word is “COMPLIANCE”. Strict compliance with the preventive and defensive measures established by the management company, by all employees at all levels. In the long term, the goal should be, not only to reduce injuries, accidents and incidents on ships, but to eliminate them and most importantly, to ensure that no more human lives are lost at sea!
The support from the company, the quality of the management and the communication structure with the shore offices are a very important parameter of Seaman Factor. Seafarers need to feel that their contribution is recognized that they are supported and that they have access to appropriate information and rewards.
Companies with a strong safety culture and respect for their people achieve better results, greater crew retention and higher productivity.
The gradual introduction of autonomous and semi-autonomous ships, artificial intelligence, the digitalization of operations and technological progress make the role of the Seaman even more important factor.
The seafarer of the future will need to be trained in new skills, greater familiarity with complex control systems, the use of alternative fuels, advanced digital technologies, and the ability to manage data and information in real time.
In the distant future, so-called autonomous (unmanned) ships are planned and expected to sail on the oceans of the world. However, the human element will never be completely replaced. On the contrary, the successful exploitation of technology will always depend on people who can understand, operate and support it.
The modern working conditions of seafarers on merchant ships are a mixture of progress and difficulties. On the one hand, technology, international legislation and increased awareness of crew welfare have undoubtedly improved the working environment. On the other hand, the intensification of work with additional bureaucratic burden, isolation, psychological burden and market pressure continue to create significant challenges.
The profession of seafarers, despite the nowadays advanced communication abilities, remains lonely, demanding and dangerous, but at the same time rewarding, with opportunities for professional and financial advancement. The continuous evolution of technology and the need for highly trained personnel ensure that, despite the challenges, the contribution of the seafarer, what we here call Seaman Factor, will continue to be a fundamental factor in the Greek, Greek-owned and international shipping for decades to come.
*Capt. Michalis Fragkias ex DPA at Sun Enterprises Limited
