Here is the another issue of the popular Human Element bulletin. The key topic is the rogue behavior. Unfortunately, there is no any single and, at the same time, effective solution to the problem of rogue behavior.

However, the actions that could be undertaken in order to avoid the negative effects, may include providing the safe and secure working environment, that should also be usable, as well as proper living and working conditions plus the terms of employment. Another way to do that could be the encouragement of a healthy lifestyle and establishing the reasonable balance between the people and the job that is required for the ship to be operated in a safe and effective way.

Then, one of the additional options would be ensuring the required consistence in the education and recognized standards relating to the vocational training by means of the specific training, noting the job, operational role as well as the operating pattern of the vessel, together with the environment in which the ship would most likely operate, conducting the continued professional training on board the ship, including the analysis of the lessons that have been learnt from the AIRs, i.e. accident investigation reports, and providing of the most clear yet concise instructions as well as technical and operation manuals... Better if supplemented with this short video.

One more issue of the Alert. Nowadays, the image of the shipping industry in the eyes of the general society is not that good, rarely hearing any positive news. People are, instead, usually informed of the vessels in difficulties in stormy conditions, groundings and pollution of the surrounding environment.

They are commonly told about the maritime piracy taking place in some parts of the world ocean, ship masters jailed for misdemeanor etc. People who are familiar with the maritime internet resources read the articles berating the current state of the shipping industry, and the life at sea, in particular.

For sure, there will be numerous comments concerning the over-regulation, excessive paperwork and constantly increasing number of checks, reduced manning of ships, fatigue problems, owners not caring about the seafarers and not investing any part of their profits in the human element. It is not said everywhere that the maritime industry is a high-tech one, and that is because, regardless of the level of automation introduced into a vessel, there is always a need for human to keep that vessel operating.

These is also a demand for pilots and ship managers, marine surveyors, regulators and investigators of the accidents, experts and all other specialists, all of whom should better e coming from seafaring backgrounds. Use this short video as a supplement.

Alert issue no. 21. Throughout all last twenty issues of the Bulletin, the author have tried to emphasize the significance of the human element to operating the vessels in a safe and effective manner; the proper communication between all players to ensure the fitness of the ship for the intended activity is also very important.

We have also touched such the critical aspects of ship operation as the requirements applicable to the secure and safe working environment, fair employment terms, decent conditions of living and work, etc. The discussion of the topics listed above was intended to serve the ultimate goal, namely to ensure the safe conduct of the vessel and safe/timely delivery of the transported goods. We would like to underline the importance of the timely, accurate and relevant information and feedback to the successful design and subsequent operation of any vessel.

Another important issue is the information management involving the storage and processing, as well as transmission and input/output of the information. Nowadays, major part of it is undertaking using the so-called IT, i.e. information technologies - the application of computers, software and communication for the information management, dissemination and processing. This booklet shall be supplemented with the associated video film.

The present issue of the Bulletin is intended to introduce the second phase of our project having the purpose of improving the awareness of such important factor of the maritime industry, as the Human Element. This project is planned to be running for another 3 years being sponsored by Lloyd's Register.

Through all the first twelve issues of the Alert bulletin, the author tried to focus on the various areas involving one or more elements of the vessel's lifecycle - this was some kind of reminder that the considerations relating to the Human Element shall not be treated as one starting at the design stage and finishing at the time when the ship is delivered; they shall rather be applied throughout the working cycle of the vessel, with the particular attention being paid at the time when its role or the manning philosophy is updated; this may also be the time of retro-fitting new ship systems or equipment.

In the next nine issues of the bulletin the authors will mainly focus on the proper application of the knowledge that has been accumulated, in order to cover the specific HE issues of effective communication, slips/trips/falls, fatigue, safety, wellbeing, information management, alarm and automation management, education and training, complacency matters etc. We are trying to represents the professional views on all sectors of the marine industry... This training video supplements the booklet.

Another issue of the Human Element bulletin. Inside this one the reader will find info on the safety in the ship newbuilding and ship repair industry, in particular, addressing the human factor during the new construction process, and various human factors relating to the engineering deficiencies. The actual need for a more robust vessels has also been addressed; in addition to the above, the authors included some info about building platform management systems based on the UCD - user centered design - concept. Once they reach their new vessel, their expectations are of a ship that is 'fit for purpose' - that is, designed and constructed having the user and the operational task in mind and, of course, noting environmental conditions that it will encounter during its working life.

Few, if any, of the crew members are involved in the process of design and build, yet these are the people who are going to work and live within the ship. It is the crew - and not just the senior officers - who will first spot those irritating design errors, some of which may not be readily identified until sea trials; but which could so easily be rectified before commissioning, such as: critical lines of sight obscured by machinery or equipment pieces, various furniture; poor leads for ropes and wires; tripping hazards around the decks; doors that open onto narrow working alleyways; handrails installed too close to the bulkhead; poor access and removal routes for the machinery and equipment, etc... This short training video may be used as the useful supplementary material.

Alert Issue 23 continuing the "Knowledge and Skills" topic which was started within the Issue 22. The companies should demonstrate their commitment to development through not only economic, but also environmental and social performance.

The SCR, standing for the "corporate social responsibility", shall be there right in the center point of what the people responsible for the financial sides of the vessel operation are dealing with, and it's concerned with the organization responsible for the impact on the employees, customers, community and surrounding environment, and that's why the CSR principles commonly apply to the shipbrokers, charterers, financiers and insurers. Talking about the human element, this is regardless of whether in chartering or brokering of the ships, fine balance will always be there between costs and investments.

The insurers are also playing a major role in the process by highlighting the issues related to the human elements, during the assessment and prioritizing the risks as well as raising the awareness of the threats leading to the insurance claims plus determination of the control measures that should be in place to get the number of claims reduced. This would note mean, however, that everyone shall be expected to be a human element expert...

Alert Issue 22. Regulation is absolutely necessary to provide the safe and secure maritime shipping and clean oceans; it is also considered important of the setting of the commonly established and recognized standards for both design and building of the vessels and their systems, plus for the education and further training of the stakeholders plus operational procedures.

The seamen also need to be protected through the regulatory documents ensuring the secure and safe environment to work in on board their ships, conditions of life and work, fair employment terms etc. People directly engaged in the working out of the regional and also national/international regulatory instruments relating to the safety of human life as well as property at sea together with the environment protection required to take this human element into account. In IMO Res. A.947(23) the human element was defined as a complex issue affecting all above mentioned issues involving the whole spectrum of the activities performed by the crew members, management ashore, legislators, shipyards and other parties.

The associated checklist has been developed and released by IMO to be completed by all bodies of Organization prior to the approval/adoption of the required amendments to the relevant IMO tools. Continued in the Issue 23.

We are all glad to welcome all participants of the international maritime shipping industry to the opening edition of the new Alert Bulletin released with our ultimate intention to raise the awareness of all people of the Human Element matters since they directly affect the commercial shipping. The present campaign presents a result of a three-year project run by the respected Nautical Institute under the sponsorship by Lloyds Register.

The development of the technology has actually revolutionized the way in which the vessels and the systems installed on them are designed, handled and maintained; however, there is still a serious demand for the human involvement at different stages of the process despite all automation commonly installed on the vessels. Nearly eighty percent of all accidents occurring at sea can be attributable to the human error, often referred to as operator error.

While the operator errors might be considered the immediate causes of the accidents, the root causes can be traced back to the people's influences on the design/operation of the vessels and systems. What it means is that the human element shall definitely be treated as a really critically important feature of all aspects of design/operation of the vessels and their systems. The aim of the authors of these bulletins is to capture the attention of the readers to the human element issues. This first issue of Alert is supplemented with the short video film.