Does simulator-based learning promote inappropriate confidence in the mind of a newly qualified Officer of the Watch?

Abstract The importance of NTS has been realised in many safety critical industries. Recently the maritime domain has also embraced the idea and implemented an NTS training course for both merchant marine deck and engineering officers. NTS encompass both interpersonal and cognitive skills such as situational awareness, teamwork, decision making, leadership, managerial skills, communication and language skills. Well-developed NTS training allow ship’s officers to recognise quickly when a problem is developing and manage the situation safely and efficiently with the available team members. As a result, the evaluation and grading of deck officers’ NTS is necessary to assure safety at sea, reduce the effects of human error on-board ships, and allow ship board operations to be performed safely. This paper identifies the skills necessary for deck officers to effectively perform their duties on the bridge of a ship. To achieve this, initially, a taxonomy of deck officers’ NTS is developed through a review of relevant literature and the conducting of semi-structured interviews with experienced seafarers. Subsequently, NTS weighting data is collected from experienced seafarers to allow the weight of each element of the taxonomy to be established by the use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP).

This paper proposes a hybrid human reliability analysis model, comprised of qualitative and quantitative approaches, to measure the pilot performance for accident prevention in ports. The first part of this research is a qualitative investigation aimed at developing marine pilot reliability indexes (MPRIs) by conducting field observation, semi-structured focus-group interviews, and accident data analysis at ports. The results from the first part aid the identification of the key players involved in pilotage operations and the main factors influencing pilot reliability. To examine the impact of the identified factors in shaping pilot reliability, the Delphi approach is used in the second part of the study. The Delphi approach allows for the development of a MPRI agreed upon by experts. In the third part, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to rank the importance of each identified MPRI. It is followed by an empirical assessment of the reliability of a marine pilot under uncertainty using Fuzzy Evidential Reasoning (FER). Three senior marine pilots in one of the major marine ports in the Middle East region are assessed using the developed MPRI model. The results reveal the novelty of this assessment tool in offering an effective and flexible reliability assessment and diagnostic instrument for decision makers to predict the reduction of pilot reliability.

Ship's bridge simulators are very popular in the worldwide training and assessment of merchant navy deck officers. The examiners of simulator courses presently do not have a method to quantitatively assess the performance of a group or an individual. Some examiners use checklists and others use their gut feeling to grade competence. In this paper a novel methodology is established that uses the Evidential Reasoning algorithm to quantitatively assess the Non-Technical Skills (NTS) of merchant navy officers. To begin with, interviews were conducted with experienced deck officers to develop the taxonomy and behavioural markers that would be used in the assessment process. A random selection of students studying towards their Chief Officer's Certificate of Competency were recruited to have their NTS to be observed in a ship's bridge simulator. The participant's behaviour was rated against five criteria and the subsequent data was entered into the Evidential Reasoning algorithm to produce a crisp number. The results that were generated demonstrate that this approach provides a reliable method to quantitatively assess the NTS performance of merchant navy officers in a simulated bridge environment.

In 2006, a review of maritime accidents found that non-technical skills (NTSs) are the single largest contributing factor towards such incidents. NTSs are composed of both interpersonal and cognitive elements. These include things such as situational awareness, teamwork, decision making, leadership, management and communication skills. In a crisis situation, good NTSs allow a deck officer to quickly recognise that a problem exists and then harness the resources that are at their disposal to safely and efficiently bring the situation back under control. This paper has two aims. The first is to develop a methodology which will enable educators to quantitatively assess the impact of Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)-approved Human Element, Leadership and Management (HELM) training on deck officer’s NTSs with a view to identifying further training requirements. The second is to determine whether the HELM training provided to develop the NTSs of trainee deck officers is fit for purpose. To achieve these aims, a three-phase approach was adopted. Initially, a taxonomy for deck officer’s NTSs is established, behavioural markers are identified and the relative importance of each attribute is calculated using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Subsequently, a set of scenarios were identified for the assessment of deck officer’s NTSs in a ship bridge simulator environment. A random selection of students that have completed the Chief Mate (CM) programme was performed, and data regarding their NTS-related performance in the scenarios was collected. Finally, the collected data was fed into the evidential reasoning (ER) algorithm, utility values were produced and, having established these values, the effectiveness of the HELM training that the students have received was then evaluated.

The task of producing a generic model of the modal choice decision making process is a challenging one. Modal choice is strongly influenced by the infrastructure limitations and geographical constraints of the area in which the decision is being made. With this in mind, addressing modal choice on an individual basis for each region may be the optimal solution. This is the approach adopted in this paper. The creation of a modal choice model is a multistage process of which this paper addresses the first stage, the production a framework of the decision making process. Firstly, a number of criteria that are commonly used in modal choice models are identified. Then a number of gaps in the criteria utilized in previous papers are established. Subsequently, the method used to produce a framework of the decision making process within North West England’s Atlantic Gateway is outlined. Through consultation with transport industry experts in North West England, an initial list of sixty eight papers was reduced to thirty six that were considered to be of specific relevance to modern day freight transportation within their region. The criteria used in each of these papers were then, along with further industry input, used to create the foundation on which a modal choice framework specific to the Atlantic Gateway could be built. A greater understanding of what influences modal choice within this region will allow informed decisions to be made by policy makers on how to more efficiently utilize the available modes of freight transport. Having established this, future work can then go on to build upon these findings. This paper recommends that future work is performed to establish the weights of each criteria and sub-criteria within the framework. This should then be followed by establishing industry’s perceptions of the best and worst alternatives for moving freight within the Atlantic Gateway.

A review of maritime accidents conducted over the last decade confirms that human error is the main contributing factor in these incidents. Well-developed Non-Technical Skills (NTS) can reduce the effects of human error. NTS include both interpersonal and cognitive skills such as situation awareness, teamwork, decision-making, leadership, managerial skills, communication and language skills. In a crisis situation good NTS allow a deck officer to recognise the problem quickly, take action to manage the situation, and utilise the available team members safely and effectively. This paper identifies the importance of NTS training for merchant navy deck officers. It also highlights room for improvement in the existing HELM training. Research has shown that at present the structure of HELM training is not very effective. The other safety critical domains? efforts into NTS developments are investigated and examples of best practice are adapted into the maritime domain?s NTS training. Suggestions are given for improvements to the HELM course based on proven successful methods in other safety critical domains (aviation and anaesthesia). A subsequent Cost Benefit Analysis for improving deck officers? NTS is also carried out through the use of Bayesian Networks and Decision Tree Modelling.

The complete study and revision guide for the International Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).For all ranks and serving crew in the mercantile marine, this study pack covers everything students need to revise when preparing for the oral assessment taken as part of the Deck Certificate of Competency at either junior or senior levels. Since publication of the first edition, there have been many new innovations throughout the industry. This guide is fully updated to reflect these changes and includes practice questions on International Safety Management (ISM), Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS), as well as hundreds of additional tutorial questions throughout the book and the accompanying downloadable resources.This edition of The Seamanship Examiner has been fully updated with the latest amendments to the COLREGs and is a trusted study aid for all international STCW Deck Officer candidates including Officer of the Watch, Chief Mate and Master positions, plus those working coastal and inland waters in the fishing industry such as Deck Officers.

A review of maritime accidents conducted in 2006 confirms that human error is the main contributing factor in maritime accidents. This study illustrates that major maritime accidents are not caused by technical problems but by failure of the crew to respond to the situation appropriately.Non-technical skills (NTS) encompass both interpersonal and cognitive skills such as situation awareness, teamwork, decision-making, leadership, managerial skills, communication and language skills, etc. In a crisis situation good NTS allow the deck officers to recognise a problem quickly and manage the situation and team safely and effectively. As a result, the evaluation and grading of deck officers’ NTS is necessary to assure safety at sea.This research aims to identify the links between maritime accidents and deck officers’ NTS and identifies significant criteria and their contributions to the deck officers’ NTS by using the Formal Safety Assessment concept. Taxonomy of deck officers’ non-technical skills was developed by conducting interviews with experts and collecting NTS weighting data for calculating each NTS weight by the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method.Based on the taxonomy of the deck officers NTS behavioural markers were developed for the assessment of their NTS in the bridge simulator. A set of bridge simulator crisis scenarios was developed to assess deck officers’ NTS.Two sets of Chief Mate volunteer students’ NTS performance was assessed in the bridge simulator. One set of students are those who have not obtained NTS training i.e. HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management) and the other set of students are those who have obtained the HELM training as part of their main course of study. All groups’ NTS performances are calculated by the ER (Evidential Reasoning) Algorithm and are compared to see if there are any improvements in the NTS performance with the HELM training. After comparison it was found that NTS performance of the groups with HELM training was only 0.8% better than the NTS performance of the groups without HELM training.HELM course effectiveness is evaluated and suggestions are given for further improvements to the course. Cost benefit analysis for improving deck officers’ NTS was carried out by Bayesian Network and Decision Tree Model.