Identifying the cause of human errors in ship navigation

Humans play a compulsory role in the navigation of ships and therefore leading to being one of the causal factors of maritime accidents. In fact, studies have shown that majority of accidents at sea are generally attributed to human errors or associated with human errors. This project aims to identify and understand the cause of human error, and propose a solution to minimize such occurrence. Case studies of accidents and incidents are retrieved and analyzed to identify trends in accidents at sea. Numerous interviews and surveys with experienced seafarers and subject matter experts are then conducted to gather opinions on the occurrence of mishaps. Literature review on the associated systems and current practices is also done to provide greater understanding and comprehension of the relevant subject matter. After analyzing various causes and reasons, it is decided that this project shall focus on the flaws and deficiencies encountered in maritime communication procedures. Communication at sea is extremely relevant and important as the effective exchange and swift acquisition of information could attribute to greater situation awareness. This is particularly applicable to our local and regional setting due to the presence of many non-native English speaking seafarers. Though English is the mainstream language in the global shipping industry, many regional seafarers are not proficient in it, and often resort to using their mother tongue languages such as Malay or Bahasa Indonesia which are not understandable to all. The lack of standardized language and procedures in communication at sea often lead to exchange of information marred with errors and obstacles. It is later revealed that while international agency International Maritime Organization has introduced a standardized vocabulary, their system seems to be of low efficiency. Knowledge developed in Air Traffic Control is then tapped on to improve maritime communication. This project hopes to improve the communication procedure at sea by proposing a set of standardized vocabulary and communication procedure which is easy to learn by non-native English speakers. The effects of this standardized vocabulary are experimented in a ship simulator, and evaluated to prove its feasibility. Through the implementation of standardized vocabulary at sea, mariners could have greater ease in constructing messages and understanding messages sent by reciprocals. Shorter communication duration could also be achieved as air-time in the maritime is often limited. Therefore, the author recommends the implementation of standardized vocabulary at sea for better communication at sea, and provides further recommendation to improve maritime communications.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering