Incident reporting in Finnish shipping companies

The purpose of the International Safety Management Code (the ISM Code) is to promote safety culture in the maritime industry. Learning the lessons from incidents should help to improve safety performance since incidents and accidents can share the same root causes. The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at incident reporting in the Finnish shipping industry, to study the reasons for poor incident reporting and to suggest improvements to increase reporting. The paper consists of a literature study, which focuses on previous studies concerning incident reporting, and an interview study, which focuses on Finnish shipping companies and their personnel. The interview study confirmed that incident reporting does not function properly within the Finnish maritime industry. The maritime personnel have an occupational culture which is incompatible with the rule-based safety management approach provided by the ISM Code. The willingness to report incidents could be increased if all seafarers were involved in the reporting process and the preparation of corrective actions. In addition, the reporting procedures should be streamlined and developed to a more user-friendly direction.     

Critical factors for successful implementation of the ISM Code in some Pacific Islands states

Although the International Safety Management (ISM) Code was fully implemented from July 1st 2002, not all countries signatories to the Code, particularly developing countries such as Pacific Islands states, are successful in the introduction and implementation of the instrument. In this paper, we aim to determine factors that facilitate the successful implementation of the ISM Code particularly for the above-named region. Through a thorough literature review, a model of 11 critical factors for the Code implementation success was proposed. These factors were empirically tested using the triangulation of a survey of a group of maritime administration personnel and shipping companies in Fiji and two indepth interviews with senior officers in the Samoa Maritime Administration during the period June–August 2007. The proposed factors were verified by both survey respondents and interview informants, i.e., that maritime safety awareness rooted in a safety culture, senior management commitment and leadership across organisations and the industry, employee involvement and empowerment, enforcement capability of flag state administrations, application of quality management principles in safety management systems, rationalisation of documentation, among others, are essential to the successful implementation of the Code. This research hopes to contribute to the literature and to provide maritime administrations and shipping companies in the Pacific Islands states with additional reference and information that will help expedite the effective implementation of the ISM Code. The need for future research directions is expressed in this paper. Additional investigations, e.g., conducting the same research in other Pacific Islands states as well as in other developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, would enhance the validity and reliability of this study’s findings.     

ISM Code implementation: an investigation of safety issues in the shipping industry

Acknowledging that shipping safety continues to be a major topic of interest in the maritime community, the present study attempts to identify the critical factors of International Safety Management (ISM) Code implementation, to identify the dimensions that describe whether the ISM Code has fulfilled its intended purpose as well as to assess their interrelationships. Moreover, the present study aims to explore whether the fulfillment of the Code’s intended purpose is associated with accident reduction. Evidence was drawn from a sample of 63 masters and chief officers who have hands-on onboard experience on ISM Code implementation and data were analyzed through the use of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), correlation analysis, and binomial logistic regression. Findings indicate that the critical factors of ISM Code implementation can be categorized in the crew-related and the company-related dimensions. Also, the fulfillment of the intended purpose of the ISM Code consists of the factors of safety management system efficiency and increased safety, which were also found to be significantly associated with the crew-related dimension of ISM Code implementation. Finally, results showed that both safety management system efficiency and increased safety increase the probability of accident reduction at the highest level.     

The ISM Code and the ISPS Code: A critical legal analysis of two SOLAS regimes

Within the comprehensive body of law encompassed by the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), there are two regimes that are topical and outstanding in the current maritime milieu. These are the international safety management and the international ship and port facility regimes, both characterized by two codes serving as the centre of gravity of each, namely, the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, respectively. In this article the concept of the code as a legal instrument is perused following which a critical legal analysis is carried out of the two above-mentioned Codes, including their backgrounds, the evolutionary process culminating into the regimes and their interrelationships. Several anomalies and inadequacies in the two regimes are identified but in the final analysis it is concluded that both instruments are salutary additions to the body of convention law generated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They will undoubtedly influence the continuing development of international law in the field of maritime safety and security.     

从个案中谈海上事故安全调查的定位和取向

《海上事故安全调查国际标准和推荐方法规则》已于2010年1月1日生效,该规则与目前我国的水上交通事故调查在理念和操作上有着诸多不同,其中最为根本的区别在于调查的性质和目的不同。文中通过分析一份英国海上事故调查委员会(Marine Accident Investigation Branch)公布的事故调查报告,来对比分析事故安全调查的定位和取向。     

Analytical investigation of marine casualties at the Strait of Istanbul with SWOT–AHP method

The Strait of Istanbul is one of the most dangerous and busiest sea passages, according to its narrowness, sharp turns, currents, heavy traffic and many other important factors. Despite the latest precautions, marine incidents still occur, especially in narrow seaways. This study shows that a management tool that is specifically applied for reducing marine casualties and consequently enhancement of safety and ship management performance can be used to prevent accidents and casualties in maritime transportation. In this study, factors which affect marine casualties examined and determined with SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis method and weighting of the factors determined by using the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method. With this approach, strategic action plans were developed for minimizing shipping casualties at the Strait of Istanbul, taking into account the weighting factors and previously happened accidents.     

Safety culture in shipping

The emergence of a safety culture in shipping has been promoted, especially by the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization. However, what is really meant by a safety culture? The adoption of the International Safety Management Code and of the amended International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, STCW 95, together with the introduction of Formal Safety Assessment in the IMO rule making process are considered as the major tools contributing to the emergence of such. This article examines the evolution of the concept of maritime safety concept during the last decades and discusses how the adoption of new international instruments has contributed to improve the maritime safety system. It provides possible definitions of maritime safety and safety culture and discusses how far the maritime safety system is from a culture of safety.     

A study of maritime security and piracy

This paper studies the contributing factors of maritime piracy by analyzing previous incidents that have been reported to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Part of the analysis is to filter those ship types that are particularly vulnerable to piracy attacks. The paper also introduces the guidelines developed by the IMO and the industry envisaging to minimize the risk to ships that are exposed to attacks from pirates. It further describes the initiatives taken to develop a sustainable mechanism in the high-risk area (HRA)¹ to suppress piracy and other maritime crimes. This study reflects the fact that maritime security and piracy issues’ importance has been increasingly recognized in the 40 year history of Maritime Policy & Management.     

An empirical assessment of ISM Code effectiveness on performance: the role of ISO certification

ABSTRACT

Although the introduction of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code aimed at increasing the safety standards in the maritime industry, several studies conducted so far argue for its inability to successfully fulfill its goals. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the ISM Code effectiveness by drawing analogy from similar applications of ISO 9001 effectiveness in service companies. It also aims to determine its impact on firm performance and differentiate between ISO and non-ISO-certified shipping companies. Findings indicate that ISM Code effectiveness consists of two dimensions, namely continuous improvement and customer satisfaction focus, and the significance of its contribution on improving company performance is revealed, especially in the case of ISO-certified shipping companies. Moreover, the continuous improvement dimension was found to affect performance at a greater extent.     

香港地区实施ISM工作现状及思考

文中介绍了香港地区实施ISM规则(国际安全管理规则)机构、立法及实施的相关情况,着重分析了《香港商船(安全)条例》涉及ISM规则的有关规定和执行,总结了香港地区航运公司管理和实施ISM规则的特点,提出了国内ISM/NSM规则的实施及相关工作的建议。     

21世纪欧盟海事综合政策的管理框架解析

为直面21世纪的全球化竞争、气候变化、海洋环境和海上安保、能源安全和可持续发展等挑战，欧盟委员会在各成员国为期一年的专题磋商和分析之后，于2007年10月颁布了欧盟海事综合政策，以确保海洋资源的综合管理。文中从根本原则，基本理论和最终目标，主要内容这三方面，对21世纪欧盟海事综合政策的管理框架进行详细全面的阐述.     

ISM规则修正案的理解与应用

《国际船舶安全营运和防止污染管理规则》（ISM规则）修正案已于2008年12月4日在第85届海安会上以第273号决议通过,并将于2010年7月1日起强制实施。文中结合船公司体系文件的修改,探讨对ISM规则的理解与应用。     

The human talent and its role in ISM Code effectiveness and competitiveness in the shipping industry

The present study empirically evaluates the role of human talent in the effective implementation of quality management systems in the shipping industry context. Specifically, we analyze the relationships among top management commitment to quality, ISM (International Safety Management) Code effectiveness and competitiveness as well as we assess the influence of talent in these associations. We test our research hypotheses using a sample of 199 shipping companies located in Greece. The findings show that ISM Code effectiveness acts as a mediator between top management commitment and shipping company competitiveness, while the different talent philosophies were found to moderate this relationship.     

“指定人员”的地位与职责分析

"指定人员"是<国际船舶安全营运和防止污染管理规则>中的重要条款之一,在ISM规则(International Safety Management Code for the Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention)结构中的地位仅次于"公司的责任和权力".如何充分发挥其对船舶安全管理体系运行应中有的监控作用,成为企业安全文化的一部分,对其作用的认识和定位是个关键.该问题不仅会影响到船舶安全管理体系运行的有效性,还会影响到安全管理水平的螺旋式提高.     

无船承运人民事法律地位的认定

结合《国际海运条例》和《海商法》的规定,分析无船承运人与货主托运人之间的法律关系,指出其与国际船舶运输经营者间的法律关系存在的困惑,并提出解决的基本思路。     

基于国际安全管理规则的安全管理观念和方法

分析ISM规则所创导的船舶安全管理观念的基本出发点和安全管理方法中的主要依据和具体方法,认为提高对ISM规则的理解和认识,可促进船舶安全和防污染工作的有效开展。     

博斯普鲁斯海峡海上事故原因探析

博斯普鲁斯海峡是世界上最危险和最繁忙的航道之一,在地理政治学上、战略上和经济上具有重要意义。博斯普鲁斯海峡的海上事故取决于很多因素,包括特殊的地理条件、海洋和天气条件下可见性缺乏、人为错误(领航)、技术无效性,以及海峡交通密度等。通过使用往年的数据对海上事故原因进行研究和分析。     

Evaluating the knowledge of experts in the maritime regulatory field

Regulations are introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into the maritime industry as the result of safety accidents and/or pollution incidents. When there is lack of historical data, then the IMO appoints experts in order to collect information regarding the costs and benefits generated to a stakeholder of the maritime industry once implementing a maritime regulation. Therefore, the role of experts in providing qualitative and quantitative information is crucial with respect to the quality of the maritime regulatory process within the IMO or other regulatory authorities. In this article, a methodology is proposed involving common criteria in determining the expertise of an individual in the maritime regulatory field. As essential part of the research methodology, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is utilized to determine the expertise of an individual based on his/her own judgements. The regulatory authorities and other stakeholders of the maritime industry may use this method when selecting experts for decision-making. In this article, a simulation is carried showing the potentials of the AHP methodology in expertise evaluation followed by a case study.     

Assessment of the maritime labour convention compliance using balanced scorecard and analytic hierarchy process approach

Maritime labour convention (MLC), adopted by International Labour Organization in 2006, is one of the latest contemporary issues in the maritime industry. Since the convention entered into force after August 2013, maritime administrations and ship management companies have great responsibilities to control and verify the socio-technical requirements within the shipboard environment. The convention principally organized along with several key considerations such as minimum requirements for seafarers to work on-board ships, conditions of employment, accommodation, recreational facilities, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection. At this insight, the compliance and enforcement matters are another concern to fulfil the requirements. This paper provides a model-based approach integrating balanced scorecard (BSC) with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate compliance with the MLC requirements at the operational level. The research is expected to provide original contributions to monitor the MLC 2006 compliances level in ship fleet operation and management.