dardized simulation training solution
accessible to all. Based on the results
of the first maritime navigation work-shop
(see below), we are now better
able to appreciate human performance
under routine as well as emergency
situations.
Human Performance
Human physical behaviour, and in-deed
human physical performance, is
driven somewhat by cognitive behav-iour,
which in turn is driven by social
perspective, technical knowledge, re-sources,
skills and abilities. Therefore, if
we can gain insight into how maritime
watchkeepers carry out tasks and iden-tify
elements of cognitive performance
and train to improve these mecha-nisms,
it follows that we can then im-prove
high-risk simulation training for
high-risk operations, in ways that have
yet to be implemented in maritime and
process industries.
Throughout my research under the EN-HANCE
project, the fundamental focus
has been based around elements of
experience in applying technical knowl-edge
and understanding into how reli-able,
effective and experienced watch-keepers
think and act., especially in
THE MARITIME SIMULATION NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 19
high-risk situations.
Maritime Risk
The first stage in gaining a thorough
and usable understanding of maritime
risk is knowing the high-risk circum-stances
in which incidents occur. Some
lessons can be learned from accident
databases and reports. Yet, in fact safe
execution of high-risk tasks occurs far
more frequently than failure.
As indicated by vessel traffic figures for
Norway: in the second quarter of this
year, 2019, Norwegian ports facilitated
the safe movement of 1,668,999 pas-sengers,
whilst welcoming 15,260 ves-sel
arrivals, which for the mariners out
there, equates to 83,549,948 Gross
tonnage, in a four-month period alone.
Unfortunate occurrences on the Costa
Concordia or Herald of Free Enterprise
scale of disasters happen once, possi-bly
twice a decade. Nevertheless, we
do hear of incidents such as the KNM
Helge Ingstad Frigate — Sola TS Oil
Tanker Collision, during the early hours
of 8 November 2018, which resulted in
extensive damage to the frigate and
minor damage to the tanker.
High profile cases and fatalities do of
course occur more frequently than we
are comfortable with, and significant
improvements can be made. However,
disasters on such a scale are relatively
rare because, day in, day out, the hu-man
operator or human navigator car-ries
out their duties sufficiently, despite
often difficult and challenging circum-stances.
This research is concerned
with finding ways to improve training
for circumstances in which critical tasks
become difficult to manage and indeed
to enhance ways to mitigate the cur-rent
latent safety risks.
Stakeholder Engagement
The workshop on maritime naviga-tion
was held on 31st October 2019, at
the University of South-East Norway,
Vestfold Campus. A hearty discussion
around maritime navigation and the im-pact
of automation unfolded to identify
ways of improving maritime simulation
training.
Despite being unfamiliar with the re-search
methods, the participants’ con-tributions
were extremely valuable.
Most importantly, the lessons learnt
from that day will go on to aid future
work. This workshop was the first step
in gathering the experienced maritime
professionals’ and future watchkeepers’
views to understand the demands that
they face.
By capturing all the subtle, important,
knowledge and experiences we mari-ners
may take for granted, it is hoped
the watchkeeper workload can be bet-ter
appreciated. This is of great signifi-cance
to future manning requirements,
training, skills, job descriptions and the
way shipping works, especially when
considering future successful incor-poration
of automation technology in
more marine operations.
Future Research
This research is only just beginning, and
these efforts form the basis on which
to take forward intelligent compre-hensive
information to those who are
developing and regulating automation
technology and training solutions for
the maritime industry. It is my mission to
ensure that the mariner’s voice is heard
and communicated effectively. You can
expect this research to delve deeper, to
capture what it is to be a modern-day
professional watchkeeper.
.
ABOUT ENHANCE
This project forms part of a research
deliverable under the EU ENHANCE
project, led by the University of
South-East Norway (USN), part-nered
with Kongsberg Digital (KDI)
and Liverpool John Moores Univer-sity
(LJMU), UK. Within the EN-HANCE
project, this research aims to
account for the vital function of the
navigator or maritime operator in an
ever-evolving role. This human-cen-tred
research in work package one
is designed to capture the key func-tions
and interactions on the bridge,
with the overall wider aim of the full
project being to develop transferable
knowledge to enhance training pro-tocols
for maritime operations that
minimise operational risks at sea, and
in the process industry.
If you would like to keep up to date
with the ENHANCE project develop-ments,
please visit the website on
the link below. For anyone wishing to
participate in future works or even
voice their current ideas or concerns,
please do not hesitate to get in touch.
https://enhanceh2020.eu/index.
php/press/
ABOUT HAZEL BRYAN SIVORI
Hazel sailed as a First Officer, Navi-gation
Officer, Senior Watchkeeper,
Safety Officer and Senior Dynamic
Positioning Operator (DPO) during
her time as a seafarer. In her time
ashore she has worked in Software
Consultancy, Lecturing, Training, and
as a Business Analyst, Project Man-ager
and in Port Planning Services
Coordinator roles. Hazel embraces
a strong maritime heritage, having
grown up in the North East of the
UK, in the once mighty fishing town
of Grimsby. She now lives and works
on the west coast of the UK in the
Merseyside region.
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