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You can't legislate against human error
It is obvious that you cannot legislate against accidents at sea. Nevertheless, legislators firmly believe that as long as something is illegal, it will not happen and when it happens those deemed responsible should be punished. Tanker accidents get the most publicity because of all the nasty substances ships carry. Listening to some legislators and bureaucrats one could get the impression that captains and other watch keepers deliberately ground their vessels. Nobody wants accidents at sea, but they will inevitably happen from time to time. Most tanker accidents occur in vessels below 20,000 DWT, while tank cleaning, venting or gas freeing at sea. The most frequently heard comment is that the crew did not follow standard, accepted procedure.

A recent industry study carried out by leading tanker owners associations like Intertanko, IPTA (The International Parcel Tankers Association), OCIMF (The Oil Companies International Marine Forum) and others have established that failure by personnel to follow established cargo operation guidelines and procedures, at both shipboard and at management level, was the primary cause of these accidents. The study says that manning levels is not a material factor, but questions are raised in some cases regarding crew competence and training. The industry has established a “Human Factors” task group to identify and address factor influencing procedural compliance on board tankers.

It is high time someone addressed the real problem, the general training standards for seafarers, officers’ qualifications and the competence of shore-based technical management. The tragic sinking of the chemical tanker Bow Mariner is a case in mind. We discussed the US Coast Guard report into the sinking in our last issue headlined “Human error led to Bow Mariner sinking”. The report told of flagrant breached of standard procedures. Prior to the explosion the captain gave the order to open the 22 cargo tanks that previously held MTBE permitted flammable vapours, which accumulated on the deck. According to the US Coast Guard he may have followed instructions, but the order was a “stunning breach of normal safe practices for a tanker and defies explanation or excuse. Opening tanks exposed the crew to toxic fumes, permitted flammable vapours that were heavier than air to accumulate on the deck”. The captain jumped overboard. Perhaps he realised what he had done.

Training of seafaring personnel is the responsibility of the individual countries, but most have accepted the minimum standards set by the IMO. Minimum standards must improve to reduce the number of accidents. We owe it to the seafarers to give them the appropriate training for the job they are set to do. Inadequate training is, however not the norm. Operating a modern tanker at sea is more complex than ever, but on the face of it, the training has not kept pace with development in many countries. When owners associations are this worried, the IMO should take actions to improve standards. If not the number of accidents will increase, regardless of legislation.

//Petter Arentz