Navigators’ Errors in a Ship Collision via Simulation Experiment in South Korea

A very significant number of marine accidents occur because of human errors. This study aimed to prevent ship collisions by identifying types of navigators’ errors. Based on Reason’s classification theory, the possible human errors are classified into skill-based slips (SBSs) (errors caused by the lack of skills), rule-based mistakes (RBMs) (errors caused by the misapplication of rules), and knowledge-based mistakes (KBMs) (errors caused by the lack of navigator’s knowledge). For this study, a scenario-based experiment using a ship-handling simulator was conducted with 50 recruited student navigators. The results revealed two primary human errors of accidents, namely lack of knowledge and misapplication of rules. The results suggest that a collision can be minimized when a navigator has sufficient knowledge of an appropriate course of action and a deep understanding of safety rules. Accidents cannot be prevented by identifying errors, but steps can be taken to narrow the knowledge gap. Based on the results, we proposed a simulation training on navigator error in an unfamiliar situation. The results are expected to reduce errors in the maritime sector using a human-centric work system.