Justin Lawes’ Post

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Aviation Practices for Enhanced Maritime Safety The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) recently released a comprehensive summary detailing marine casualties and incidents involving ships registered under the flags of European Union Member States. Spanning from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2022, this report sheds light on critical aspects of maritime safety. Throughout this period, Eurostat recorded a solitary major accident in commercial air transport within the EU involving EU-registered aircraft. An exception occurred in 2015, marked by the tragic crash of a German aircraft in the French Alps, resulting in 150 fatalities. The conceptual parallelism between the aircraft cockpit and the maritime vessel's bridge is not a mere abstraction. Noteworthy is the collaborative research conducted by the Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian Maritime authorities, culminating in the derivation of Bridge Resource Management (BRM) from their comprehensive examination of Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) principles within the aviation industry. While the aviation sector celebrated the implementation of CRM as a milestone, subsequent research identified the imperative for critical components supporting CRM to effectively reduce and mitigate risks during flight operations. Consequently, aviation introduced Threat and Error Management (TEM), Flight Data Monitoring (FDM), and Line Operations Safety Audits (LOSA) to proactively address risks associated with threat and error management. Presently, an impressive 95% of all commercial flights undergo LOSA and FDM processes. Regrettably, the maritime industry has yet to universally embrace such comprehensive safety measures. Despite the introduction of certain elements, such as dual watchkeeping in the cruise sector, the holistic integration of Threat and Error Management (TEM), Flight Data Monitoring (FDM), or Line Operations Safety Audits (LOSA) remains conspicuously absent on a widespread commercial basis. This divergence prompts a call to action for stakeholders within the maritime industry. Reflection upon the successes realized in the aviation sector through the adoption of CRM and its complementary safety measures is paramount. The introduction of elements such as TEM, FDM, and LOSA holds significant potential to elevate risk mitigation strategies during maritime operations. In conclusion, the time has come for the maritime industry to bridge the gap and leverage the advancements made in aviation safety practices. Embracing CRM and its auxiliary measures such as AI of a ‘data rich’ industry can foster a maritime environment that is not only safer but also more resilient in the face of evolving challenges. I look forward to an engaging debate from our Maritime Community Captain Justin S. Lawes GDL LLM Master Mariner European Maritime Safety Agency Incidents Statistics 2014-2022