8 | Seaways | May 2018 Read Seaways online at http://www.nautinst.org/seawaysIntroducing The Nautical Institute’s latest CPD course – Marine Incident Investigation and Analysis
Learning lessons from
accidents and incidents
Captain Michael Rydén
AFNII
t is doubtful that any shipping professional ever goes through their
entire service without being involved in some form of accident or
incident investigation. The importance of correct investigation,
analysis and preservation of data cannot be stressed enough.
Marine accidents and incidents are complex, and anyone carrying
out an investigation needs to possess the skills to conduct a robust
investigation and analysis.The course at a glance
The Nautical Institute’s two-day Marine Incident Investigation and
Analysis Course is a small group course that aims to enhance and
develop the participants’ abilities to support, perform and analyse a
marine incident investigation. The course is designed for shore and
ship staff who want to go deeper into the topic of incident investigation
and learn how to apply methods and tools for root cause analysis. It will
also provide guidance to investigators about the many types of factual
evidence that can be encountered on board ships.
The course complements The Nautical Institute’s specialist
publications:
l Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence
l he Mariner’s Role in Collecting Evidence – HandbookT.
This course aligns with IMO Model Course 3.11. It introduces the
student to the philosophy, processes and procedures required to support
a marine casualty investigation in accordance with IMO Assembly
Resolution A.849(20) and the Code for the Investigation of Marine
Casualties and Incidents.Who should take it?
This course would be useful for all personnel responsible for marine
accident prevention and investigation who have basic investigation
skills and would like to expand them. This includes ship safety officers,
company safety officers, designated persons ashore (DPAs), captains
and senior ship officers, operational ship managers, technical and
marine superintendents. Previous experience of risk assessment and/or
incident investigation is recommended.
Attendees should have a professional maritime background as a
foundation on which to develop further specialist knowledge, and
a sound working knowledge of ship operations. However, marine
accident investigators do not need to be experts in every area likely to
be encountered in their work. It is always possible to seek technical
advice from specialists in areas such as human factors, psychology,
metallurgy and technical analysis.What’s on the course?
The main objectives of the course are to strengthen the students’skills and enable them to carry out and evaluate effective incident
investigation. The course will provide practical tools and techniques for
the systematic investigation of human factors in marine accidents and
incidents, and allow the development of effective preventive action.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able
to demonstrate understanding and proficiency in the following areas:
l The reasons for carrying out an investigation
l How to carry out an investigation
l How to collect physical and human evidence
l Essential interview techniques
l Causes of incidents and accidents
l Identifying the relationship between cause and effect
l Human failure and human error
l Initiation of an accident/incident investigation
l Health and safety in marine investigations
l Risk assessment and hazard identification at marine accident sites
l Evidence preservation and collection issues
l The role of shipboard personnel in external accident investigations
l International aspects of marine accident/incident investigation
l Analyses, root cause, tools and techniques
l Evaluation.
The course covers the generic skills necessary to carry out a safety
investigation after any maritime or occupational accident, using real-
world examples and exercises. It will also provide an understanding of
the wide range of interests that may be involved with collecting and
using evidence after an incident (surveyors, lawyers, claims brokers,
P&I clubs etc). Owners, managers and mariners need to know what
information these individuals and organisations will want and why.
The course will also provide examples of the physical, psychological
and technical challenges that can be expected during an investigation.
Participants will learn how to apply incident analysis tools to real cases.
Other sections cover media relations and practical training on how to
carry out a witness interview.How is it delivered?
On the principle that people learn best by doing, the course is highly
interactive, switching regularly between presentations and group work.
There is at least a 50/50 split between group work (including case
studies) and lecture material. Participants will work through a series
of guided practical exercises covering a range of activities (analysing,
comparing, categorising etc), including an interview scenario.
A spokesperson/team leader for the group is appointed for each
group work session, with the role rotating around the group. The team
leader presents the team’s conclusion to the other participants.Assessment
The course concludes with a short exam on the theory covered during the
course. Participants are individually assessed on both their performance in
the exam, and on their participation in the practical exercises.Feature: Learning lessons from accidents and incidents
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