Behind the headlines? An analysis of accident investigation reports

Tang, Lijun, Acejo, Iris, Ellis, Neil ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0493-8461, Turgo, Nelson ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5508-7260 and Sampson, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5857-9452 2013. Behind the headlines? An analysis of accident investigation reports. Presented at: Seafarers International Research Centre Symposium 2013, Seafarers International Research Centre Symposium Proceedings (2013). Cardiff, UK: Seafarers International Research Centre, pp. 1-24.

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Abstract

This paper reports on an analysis of 319 accident investigation reports published over a ten-year period by four maritime authorities. In doing so it highlights the immediate and contributory causes identified by the report authors and aggregates these to create an impression of the major causes of accidents as identified by investigators over a decade. The aggregation and analysis suggest that non-seafarer related factors constitute more than one quarter of all the causes identified in the reports. In particular, third party deficiencies, poor design, and technical failure are prominently identified as causes of ‘fire and explosion’ and ‘lifeboat’ accidents. In ‘grounding’ and ‘collision, close quarter & contact’ accidents, causes such as ‘poor judgement/operation’, ‘failure in communication/coordination’, and ineffective/inappropriate use of technology stand out. Of greatest overall concern to accident investigators was ‘inadequate risk management' and 'failure in communication' despite the implementation of the ISM Code. In addition to the aggregate analysis presented, the paper offers illustrative examples from specific accident investigation reports whilst acknowledging the complexities of accident causation and the dangers of oversimplification in the assignation of accident cause.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Seafarers International Research Centre
ISBN:	1900174464
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 March 2024
Last Modified:	11 Nov 2024 03:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167440

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