BY THE NUMBERSImprovements to Reduce Human Error and Near Miss Incidents – A U.S. Coast Guard Report to Congress We recently came across a very interesting report issued all incidents. Material failure is a mechanical failure of a to Congress by the United States Coast Guard. The May shipboard system (i.e., systems involving steering, pro-2012 study might seem dated, but that’s hardly the case. pulsion, navigation, pollution prevention, fuel transfer, Actually, it’s a telling description of what can go wrong, cargo transfer, cranes), which when functioning properly, why and perhaps, a blueprint for how to go forward and acts as a defense against a casualty or pollution incident