Safety culture of navigators in terms of bridge operations on high-speed crafts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Maritime safety is important for all stakeholders. On the other hand, maritime accidents occur despite rapid advances in technology. One of the most important aspects necessary to realise safety at sea is the safety of navigation. Navigating high-speed craft (HSC) is a more challenging and risky task than other types of ship navigation. A HSC navigator with insufficient safety culture (SC) may lead to wrong decisions in challenging physiological and psychological conditions. In this study, an analysis of HSC navigators’ SC in terms of bridge operations has been carried out. Nordic Occupational Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50) and pairwise comparison of the effects of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA), Automatic Identification System (AIS) and autopilot on SC have been applied to 38 Turkish HSC navigators. Navigation operations according to SC, factors that mostly influence SC and suggestions that will improve SC have been identified and discussed in accordance with navigators’ perceptions. The results show that the overall average level of HSC navigators’ SC is low. Therefore, considerations are introduced to improve SC in HSCs.