Safety of Navigation is an area that includes 36 Deficiency Codes identified by the number 10. Over the last 5 years, Safety of Navigation has consistently ranked among the top five PSC Deficiency Areas, showing increasing trends in almost all regions, says an article published on safety4sea website.
Summary
- Safety of Navigation, a sector encompassing 36 Deficiency Codes, has consistently ranked among the top five PSC Deficiency Areas over the last five years.
- Over 51,000 deficiencies related to Safety of Navigation have been identified, with 4,037 of them marked as Detainable.
- The most common Deficiency codes are related to equipment and documents, with the most detention-causing code being Chart (code 1011).
- Despite the implementation of ECDIS, errors in passage planning and monitoring the scheduled plan persist.
- Human action is the most common issue in navigational-related incidents, but this cannot be identified during PSC inspections.
The Importance Of Safety Of Navigation
Safety of Navigation, a sector encompassing 36 Deficiency Codes marked by the number 10, has consistently remained a top PSC Deficiency Area over the last five years. This persistent issue underscores the need for regulatory compliance in this critical sector. Over this period, 51,949 deficiencies related to Safety of Navigation have been identified, with 4,037 of them marked as Detainable.
Key Deficiency Codes And Their Impact
The most common Deficiency codes related to Safety of Navigation in the last five years are revealed in Table 2. These codes, primarily equipment and document-related, indicate a significant gap in regulatory compliance. The most detention-causing deficiency code,
Chart (code 1011), should ideally have been eliminated with full ECDIS implementation. However, many ships continue to rely on paper charts as a backup method for ECDGIS.
The second most common Detainable deficiency code is related to the BNWAS (Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System). The most frequent finding is the deactivation or malfunction of this system. The third code, Nautical Publications, highlights that many ships are struggling to update the onboard documents related to Safety of Navigation.
Structural and equipment-related codes (compasses, indicators, lights, shapes, and sound signals, radars, recorders, etc.) are also common issues faced by many ships. These tools, designed to enhance Safety of Navigation, are high-alert issues as they are crucial for mariners to navigate the ship.
Human Factor In Navigational Incidents
EMSA reports that human action is the most common issue in navigational-related incidents. However, these cannot be identified by a PSC Officer during inspections. As these inspections are not conducted with the ship underway, only systems and equipment can be checked.
The Role Of ECDIS In Safety Of Navigation
Full ECDIS implementation has improved voyage safety, but it has not entirely eliminated errors in passage planning and monitoring the scheduled plan. As this is a system-oriented approach, any malfunction of the supporting systems may lead to incorrect decisions by the Bridge Team and the Master.
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Source: safety4sea
