Security

Prevention of Human Error Aboard Ships Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) is pleased to announce the publication of a new guideline entitled, Guidelines for the Prevention of Human Error aboard Ships. Man-made causes are said to account for some 80% of all marine casualties. Hence, reducing the possibility of human error can be considered as being both essential to and an effective means of reducing casualties. While many factors can contribute to a casualty, human error onboard ship can be often reduced by strengthening the training and education of all crew, and by addressing more indirect contributing factors such as hardware or other ergonomic related causes.The implementation of the International Safety Management Code has played an important role in strengthening the training and education of crewmembers. At the same time, the shipping industry has globally also started to become aware of the importance of ergonomic considerations in the design and installation stages of marine equipment systems in recent years. In fact, ergonomic design of the man and machine interface is not only important for ensuring a smooth flow of information between man and machinery, but is also expected to make the working environment of marine equipment systems more effective and safer....

Enhance maritime security The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdulsalam Mohamed, has said that the Cargo Tracking Note scheme will help ensure transparency in the maritime industry. The NPA chief made the clarification on the newly introduced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) scheme over the weekend. He said that the objective of government introducing the scheme was to enhance the security of the maritime industry.Mr. Mohammed said that maritime nations felt it was necessary to obtain advance information on cargoes as well as the vessels and the personnel conveying them."This is just like the international maritime community, which came up with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISDS) code after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S," he said. "There is need to track and have adequate information relating to cargo and ship movements"He also stated that the scheme will foster better information exchange between maritime agencies of other countries and those in Nigeria. "NPA had been discussing with the Shipping Agents of Nigeria (SAN), NACCIMA, MAN and others which had confidence in the CTN scheme. The scheme had actually taken off on Jan. 11, 2010 but a little grace period was given till the...