Reducing a Human Factor in Cruise Ships Accidents by Improving Crew Competences

In recent decades, there has been noticed a continuous growth of passengers on cruise ships. Technical as well as technological development follow this growth side to side as far as construction, transport of passengers and strict legal regulations are concerned. However, recent maritime accidents, such as the Costa Concordia’s accident, question the level of maritime safety on cruise ships. Maritime accidents on cruise ships are almost entirely linked to human factor, directly or indirectly. Apart from the parameters affecting human factor, the literature mentions very frequently the importance of education, training and crew competences in the process of reducing the number of maritime accidents. However, very few researches have been done on competences that can affect strongly the level of maritime safety on cruise ships, i.e., that can reduce the effects of human factor on it. The purpose of this study was to find a connection between reducing the effects of human factor on accidents and the crew competences on cruise ships. The research lasted for two years and consisted of two phases. Qualitative as well as quantitative methods of analysis were used in both phases. Competences that are the essential part of obligatory programmes the crew members on cruise ships have to master, and that are prescribed by the STCW Convention were analysed in the first part of the research. The second part of the research analysed competences that are essential part of programmes resulting from the cruise companies’ demands. Cruise companies have defined and determined additional programmes and competences that seafarers, navigating on their ships, have to complete and develop. The aim of the research was to determine what type of competences the cruise companies look for through additional education programmes and to determine the amount of time needed to develop them