Analysis of Accidents of Fishing Vessels Caused by Human Elements in Korean Sea Area

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 1564
• Main Authors: Kim, Su-Hyung, Lee, Seung-Hyun, Ryu, Kyung-Jin, Lee, Yoo-Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Accident investigations; Accidents; Analysis; Cooperation; Environmental protection; Fatalities; Fault tree analysis; Fishing; Fishing boats; fishing vessel accident; Fishing vessels; formal safety assessment; human element; Human error; Human factors; Human performance; Labor standards; Longlining (Fisheries); Marine accidents; Merchant ships; Negligence; Probability; Risk assessment; Safety and security measures; Safety standards; Sea vessels; Ship accidents & safety; Ships; small fishing vessel; Statistical analysis; Nigeria; United Kingdom; South Korea; Cambodia; Asia; Mexico
• ISSN: 2077-1312; 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse12091564

With an estimated 32,000 annual fatalities, fishing vessel accidents are 100-fold deadlier than those involving merchant ships. Despite ongoing safety training, accident rates remain high. Since most fishing vessel accidents occur in small fishing vessels (<12 m) and are primarily attributable to human elements, this study focuses on small fishing vessel accidents where the human element is the primary cause, exploring preventive measures for major accident types and performing a type-specific risk assessment. First, we performed a quantitative analysis of frequently occurring accidents and the indirect factors influencing the human element using maritime accident statistics and surveys, respectively. Next, we employed the fault tree analysis technique proposed by the International Maritime Organization in its Formal Safety Assessment to quantitatively assess the rate of accidents caused by the human element attributable to various indirect factors. The primary indirect factors most significantly impacting the human element were ship factors (22.8%), people factors (18.9%), and organization on board (17.4%). Secondary factors included personal negligence (14.1%), aging equipment and poor maintenance (10.3%), and harsh natural conditions such as rough waves (9.6%). Eliminating the top three secondary indirect factors reduced accidents due to the human element by 15.4% (64.5−49.1%).