Navigation Safety and Management

NMS305 Coursework 2

Navigation Safety – Briefing Notes

Overview

The coursework is aimed at developing awareness of safety critical bridge functions in large vessel operations. Using available online and library resources, you will identify and investigate actual marine casualties from accident investigation reports. In practical sessions you will create and evaluate a variety of scenarios in the ship simulator, and use these to produce risk assessments and a navigation assessment report based upon a particular casualty.

For practical sessions you will form into groups for working on the TRANSAS ship simulator software. In these groups you will create simulator scenarios in order to test and evaluate the findings from your chosen marine casualties.

Ultimately the successful student will be able to evidence an ability to use the ship simulator to demonstrate a high level of understanding of the issues around bridge resource management and accident investigation in large vessel operations.

Detailed guidance

Using available resources, identify a marine casualty from accident reports that highlight a bridge resource / navigation based failure (this could be a collision, grounding, near miss, pilotage error, heavy berthing damage etc).

You will then need to perform the following:

• Assessment of the task: Identify and summarise the operation/task that the vessel was attempting to undertake when the incident took place.
• Identify causal factors: From the accident report, identify and discuss the causal factors that occurred leading up to, during and subsequent to the incident, your observations should be based primarily from a bridge resource management perspective.
• Create a risk assessment: Using your evaluation of the causal factors, itemise the hazards for a bridge team conducting a similar operation, evaluate the risk from these hazards and complete a formal risk assessment for the operation being undertaken.
• Create a simulator scenario: Using information from 1 to 3 above create a ship simulator scenario that resembles the incident that you have investigated. These should be created as part of a group effort including input from other members of your group during practical sessions. Once completed this scenario will be re-enacted by other members of your group as part of the navigation assessment.
• Create a Navigation Assessment matrix: Create a matrix that includes elements identified in the risk assessment that you will use to assess the bridge resources management during the navigation assessment.
• Conduct a Navigation Assessment:, Carry out a navigation assessment of your group whilst they undertake your simulator scenario.
• Complete and submit a Navigation Assessment Report: Write a Navigation Assessment report. This will be based around the findings of the Navigation assessment you have carried out, but will also include the risk assessment carried out (in part 3 above).

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Based on the above criteria you will need to submit a single report that includes the following:

1. An introduction and summary of the marine casualty / incident upon which you have based this coursework, and identification of the causal factors of the incident.
2. A formal risk assessment based upon the Transas vessel type used in your scenario, and the task being conducted by the vessel at the time of your chosen incident.

• A Navigation Assessment Report which will include the completed Navigation Assessment Matrix and detailed observations / feedback from your navigation assessment.

Word Count: No more than 4000 words.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE NOTES:

Your risk assessed and realistic scenario will be created using the TRANSAS instructor software and should fully test the vessel and bridge team.  You should develop ideas and practices that optimises bridge resource management during these evolutions.

The practical sessions are student led, you will need to devise and plan the requirements of the sessions, and use the instructor software to create the scenario. When creating scenario’s you will need to consider, and prepare for, the expectations of the navigation assessment.

Create a fully considered, in depth risk assessment for the vessel operation under scrutiny. The risk assessment should highlight particular navigation and bridge resource management issues associated with the evolution being carried out.

Develop a scenario, using the TRANSAS system, that will be conducted by other members of your group and that will allow you to gauge their ability to manage the risks involved in the evolution.

Limit your risk assessment to ‘navigation’ hazards of the evolution. Consideration of generic shipboard risks such as fire, trip hazards etc. would not be appropriate.

This will be your own individual assessment of the navigational risk involved in the evolution covered. You should evaluate ALL aspects of the navigation of the vessel during the scenario, identify particular hazards, assess the level of risk and suggest control measures to reduce the likelihood of the event occurring.

The report should be based upon your observations of the evolution carried out. It should be compiled and structured in such a way that it would provide the essential feedback on bridge resource management that a bridge team and shipping company would expect to receive after such an assessment. The report will also demonstrate your understanding bridge resource management and vessel operations. In this report case studies from genuine accident/incident reports could be used to highlight issues found and discussed in your report.

You will need to demonstrate a:

• Full knowledge of the handling characteristics of that vessel in all conditions.
• Full awareness and understanding of the risks associated with operating that vessel in all conditions.
• Good knowledge of the TRANSAS software, including its limitations as a platform for simulating real life scenarios.
• Effective use of the practical sessions to develop understanding of ship operations and management.
• Competent and well researched understanding of how best to mitigate any issues arising from the above.

Marks will be awarded for

Accident Investigation (50% of the overall mark).

1. Identification of hazards, and valid evaluations of risk. Demonstrating your understanding of accident investigation and risk assessment processes. Your identification of causal factors and subsequent formal risk assessments should demonstrate a good understanding of the current issues around BRM and maritime management, and provide valid and considered control measures to mitigate identified risks.                                                                                 [25 marks]

2. Creation of an appropriate and realistic scenario using the TRANSAS instructor software that addresses the risks identifies in the risk assessment.                                 [25]

Navigation Assessment (50% of the overall mark):

3. Navigation Assessment Report: The report should demonstrate that you have undertaken a navigation assessment process. It will evidence adequate preparation and consideration of the assessment process. Note that the purpose of the report (and the award of marks) is about demonstrating the process you have gone through in developing and undertaking the assessment, rather than your judgment and/or criticisms of the bridge team. The report will demonstrate your understanding of the elements critical to the safe management of the bridge and the bridge team.                                                                                 [25]

4. Reference to industry best practice: the evaluations and observations in your report should be supported by reference to industry best practice, recommendations and guidance and the addition of appropriate case study information.                                                                 [15]

5. Presentation: The accompanying document should be well presented in the correct report format, with adequately referenced links to appropriate documentation / publications used in the text.                                                                                                                   [10]

Remember this is an individual assignment.  Please read the guidance on academic dishonesty and plagiarism contained in the student handbook (Examination and assessment offences).

Be aware that any form of assessment offence will be taken seriously.

Good Luck!