Annual General Assembly 2003 - Alexandria

Session 10 WGII

Impact of Man-Machine Interface on Maritime Casualties

Ender ASYALI

Dokuz Eylul University School of Maritime Business and Management Kaynaklar Campus, Buca Dokuzcesmeler, 35160, Izmir, Turkey
E-mail: ender.asyali@deu.edu.tr

ABSTRACT

Ships are complex sociotechnical systems consisting of technologies, people, organizational structure and environment. Human element is the weakest link in this system as the majority of maritime accidents are attributed to the human error. Understanding the limitations and abilities of human and adapting human to the other components is a proactive approach for maintaining safety at sea. Human errors are generally caused by technologies, environments, and organizations which are incompatible in some way with optimal human performance so ergonomic design principles should be applied to the points where there exist interfaces between machines, procedures, works, environment and human beings.

In this study different types of accident models will be compared by focusing human errors during design, assembly, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance phases of vessels. Also the role and contribution of applying ergonomic principles and "man-machine interface" concept to shipping industry in reducing human errors is examined.

Back to Session Index