TRAINING & EDUCATIONAnother investigation of another tragic maritime casualty beginssewolsewolBy Greg Trauthweinhile the investigation is still the tale will never fully be told. But in with shore emergency agencies - and The Technology Solutionfresh regarding the sinking the immediate aftermath, more than 300 suggested they were asking for help in While technology in the maritime sec-and the tragic loss of life remain missing and presumed dead and the decision to abandon ship: if true, tor is arguably more capable than ever wof the South Korean ferry Captain Lee Joon-seok and many of his this is unacceptable,” said Bushy. “I am to help avoid accidents, the fact is that Sewol, early reports point to a multitude crew are in jail, there are more questions saddened that the captain and crew made maritime accidents will always occur. of potential problems, including a criti- than answers. With early focus and out- bad decisions, then saved themselves be- A current mantra in the maritime and cal breakdown among the crew. As work rage set squarely on the actions of cap- fore doing more to help the passengers.” offshore circles is “risk mitigation,” and continues to secure the ship and recover tain and crew, we focus here on the role “It has been proven that almost 60% of to this end it is agreed that there is no the remaining dead onboard, Maritime of the maritime training and education all accidents at sea are attributed to Hu- there is no technology can ever remove Reporter & Engineering News reached community in mitigating the risk of fu- man Error,” said Captain Jeff Cowen, all risk from an maritime operations.out to maritime training and education ture maritime casualties. who is a graduate of the California Mari- “Emphasis must be placed upon look-experts for insights on that sector’s role “This case certainly looks like humans’ time Academy with a diverse seagoing ing out the window,” said Cowen. “What in helping to reduce the risk of disaster failed to manage their stability properly, career, working today with the State of happens if the GPS, ECDIS or Radar at sea. may have decided to overload, or may- California’s Of? ce of Spill Prevention goes out? Ships must still be able to nav-be did not secure cargo properly,” said and Response. “Fatigue has proven to be igate safely. At the bottom of U.S. charts By now the grim details of the sinking Thomas L. Bushy, Vice President of the greatest reason for human error; was there is a warning: Mariner should not to and tremendous loss of life aboard the Marine Operations, Master, T.S. Ken- the third mate rested before taking the rely solely on any one means of naviga-South Korean ferry are well-known, and nedy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy. duty of watch stander? Why wasn’t the tion.” MPT’s Morely agrees.the name “Sewol” will live in infamy in “But since the investigation is in its early Captain on the bridge during restricted “ECDIS, ARPA and AIS, for example the maritime history books. Though all stages, it is too soon to place blame only visibility? Resting perhaps?” have all greatly enhanced the amount maritime mishaps with loss of life are on the humans.” “Human error seems to be the catch of information that a watch stander has, tragic, and there have been far bigger phrase used when no other explanation but they have also increased the amount wrecks with many more dead, this one Human Error is immediately forthcoming,” said Cap- of time that person spends looking at struck a particular nerve in that of the In the aftermath, with a Third Mate at tain Ted Morley, COO, MPT. “While it all that information. A balance between 476 passengers and crew onboard, 339 the helm and the reported order for pas- is true that it is very often the underlying technology and ? rst person observa-were children and teachers on a high sengers to stay in their cabins as the ship cause of an accident, it is important to tion is needed to ensure total situational school outing for what was planned as a foundered, and with the ship’s captain put it into context and determine what led awareness.”routine sailing from the Port of Incheon among the ? rst to make it to shore safely, to, or allowed, the human error to exist. “Technology and training are only to the southern island of Jeju. It will it would appear that the human element Training, education, regulation, equip- two components though, as issues like be months if not years before the ? nal was indeed a contributing factor. “News ment and experience are all designed to crew size as compared to vessel size, chapter on Sewol is written, and perhaps reports mentioned the communications minimize the human error factors.” ship’s schedule, and the ability of the As master, I can manage drills effectively, but if I do not take it to the ? nal phase of actually giving the order to abandon ship, then I am ill-prepared. And even when safely moored alongside my home port dock, when I give that order, it still gives me shivers!Thomas L. Bushy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy26 26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2014MR #5 (26-31).indd 26 MR #5 (26-31).indd 26 5/2/2014 9:05:11 AM5/2/2014 9:05:11 AM