Safety on the ship has always been a very important area of concern for the shipping companies. The statistical data prove that a lot of maritime accidents happen due to human error. We will now in this article discuss the role of complacency and Routinization in maritime accidents. The topic is interesting, important as well as informative. There are many negative effects of the role of complacency and Routinization in maritime accidents. This is exactly why all the shipping companies all over the world ensure that the safety management systems are placed on board in all the ships.

The accidents in sea not only lead to loss of life, but also loss of property and even pollution. ISM (international safety management code) was introduced to control these errors. It clearly states that when one is well trained then they cannot go wrong in compliance. The code also states that if the crew of the ship is well trained and aware of the safety standard that must be maintained then there will be no loss of life, money, property or even environment. This will also ensure that the crew don’t do anything that is negligent in nature and therefore there will be no scope for dissatisfaction. ISM (international safety management code) states that all the crew of the ship must we trained and must know the job. The safety training is a mandatory one. Each person is equally important in the operation of the whole ship. A simple error on the part of one of the member can spoil the whole venture.

There is a case history that we are about to discuss will help you to understand the importance of the safety norms on ship. This case is a part of the fire and explosion training that is given to the seamen. This case is of a person who would work in bulk carrier. One day the shipping company gave him duty on a tanker. As in a bulk carrier he would light a cigarette on the deck. He did the same on the tanker. A senior stopped him. If he was not stopped at the right time this could have been the start of a huge explosion. The cadet was not to be blamed as he had never been on a tanker and had no idea of the safety norms. It was the duty of the shipping company and the ship management to inform him of what hazards are associated with smoking in a tanker. This incident explains how providing a detailed training to all the members of the ship is so important. No matter how small the role is ignorance of the safety norms can be very dangerous. There is no second time in safety. A life lost or a marine pollution can never be undone this is exactly why it becomes too vital that everyone is aware of the norms. In a passenger ship even the passengers must be told about the do’s and don’ts.

Well now that we have explained the importance of communicating the safety norms to all those on a ship let us move to how we can avoid complacency and routinization in maritime accidents. Well the reason is the root cause in this case. A seafarer after sometime starts taking the safety precautions lightly cause it becomes a routine job for him. Sometimes they might even become over confident. This is exactly why from time to time refresher training on safety must be given to the crew members. They should be a part of the mock drills too so that they don’t forget the importance of safety. Safety is something that we cannot take lightly in a ship. There are many levels of advanced training in safety on board that the crew members must be sent for.

Safety management system (SMS) must be something that the cadets are familiar with even before they join the ship. The marine governing body of the country regulates these trainings and ensure that the cadets are well aware of the same before they go on board. All the crew members irrespective of their level and position must do this course. The training also gives stress on how communication must be done between the crew members in times of emergency. I hope we have been able to explain the concept of the roles of complacency and routinization in maritime accidents.

Maritime Accidents: Is Complacency A Culprit?, 9.0 out of 10 based on 9 ratings