Team training in safety and security via simulation: a practical dimension of maritime education and training

In the rather extended maritime domain, a term that should be the epicentre of any successful careerbuilding path is tailor-made training via cutting-edge simulators. To cut a long story short, the breadth of operations on the various types of ships has expanded to such a large extent that extensive practical training drills are becoming a compelling need to contribute to competent seafarers. This type of training can guarantee the positive outcome in their decision-making process and help the seafarers often being under continuous pressure, to suitably respond to the various safety and security threats on-board a vessel. The several conventions and codes introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – including MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), but moreover ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) and STCW (Standards of Training Certification and Watch-keeping) being probably the most well-known examples both within and outside the maritime community – posing and requesting significant performance demands on crews. Sophisticated simulation series that promote teamwork and cooperation are the tools urgently needed to maximize training efficacy. Handling safety situations under stress (emergency response), crisis management and reactions towards a security incident are important aspects of Maritime Education and Training (MET). The authors’ approach to address those aspects utilizes enhanced simulation based team training. They argue that an effective way to gain experience and achieve corresponding skills, are practice runs on specially designed simulators that realistically represent complex conditions on-board vessels, following the respective prompts though realistic scenarios. The concept of a safety & security training simulator is introduced; the research work related to the implementation of a learning objective oriented development of simulation training scenarios and the pedagogic value added by simulation to MET are also discussed. A very important recommendation is that maritime training needs should not be regarded simply as a means to achieve regulatory compliance. The value imparted by simulation as a pedagogic tool to the maritime teaching and learning process is tremendous; adopting the learning objective oriented development of simulation training scenarios in order to effectively address pre-identified learning outcomes is the right methodology to nurture competent seafarers

Teledentistry: New Tool to Access Dental Care

The Health sector is undergoing dramatic revolution by incorporating the utilization of computers and telecommunications. Its Implications in hospitals and among physicians have gained attention. However, its impact on dentistry is less widely reported. Teledentistry can improve access to dental care as well can be used as a tool for dental education

An ethnographic exploration of ship - shore communication

Shore based monitoring, communication, coordination and management of vessel traffic in ports worldwide is a real world problem. Informed by ethnomethodological studies of work, this thesis explores the ordered in situ work of Vessel Traffic Service Operators (VTSOs); the coordination of vessel traffic; the fine grained artful performance and achievement of safe fairway navigation and the challenges faced by the VTS operators in the daily accomplishment of their institutional role. An important source of data in this ethnographic study is the naturally occurring interaction on the main working Very High Frequency (VHF) radio channel of the port, which helps explore institutional talk at work deployed to facilitate interaction, negotiation and the accomplishment of safe navigation. Three additional research techniques are utilised for data generation – observations, semi structured interviews and unstructured interviews. The case of a major Indian world port is utilised to explore the daily work of marine traffic coordination and the (pro)active interactional accomplishment of channel navigation. Research takes place against the dynamic backdrop of the harbour – a complex space with a myriad of social actors populating the scene – the VTS operators atop their tower; shipboard seafarers negotiating restricted waters; pilots rendering pilotage services; Dock Master commanding the station; seafarers aboard small local craft and lively fishermen who at times pepper the marine radio with colourful language. Two categories of findings emerge – port interaction order, institutional talk and the contingent practices that accomplish the safety/time critical work and the technological, organisational and social constraints that shape, affect and inform the work of the VTS operators. This study fills a gap in ethnomethodological studies of work with its focus on the VTS work site – a centre of coordination; it explores social order and contributes to the understanding of the local practical achievement of traffic coordination and channel navigation in restricted waters. It also contributes to our understanding of the constraints faced by the workers in the safety critical VTS work setting. Also discussed are the status of VTS operators and occupational hierarchy in the world port. The thick description of in situ VTS’ work informs maritime safety, particularly relevant in safety critical, congested and restricted sea areas

Making the case for Crew-Centered Design (CCD) in merchant shipping

Since 2003, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has emphasised the need to address and integrate ergonomics knowledge in a concerted manner. However, there is little guidance on the application of this knowledge in the design of merchant vessels. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the paper identifies the need for crew-centered design (CCD), highlighting the importance of using concepts derived from Human-Centred Design (HCD) to be able to design work spaces and operational procedures that facilitate the work of the crew on board. Drawing upon results obtained from accident analysis (utilising the Technique for the Retrospective and predictive Analysis of Cognitive Errors - TRACEr) and 24 semi-structured interviews, this paper identifies areas in which it could be potentially beneficial to integrate end-users in the design of ships and shipborne operations. This paper further discusses why and how concepts rooted in HCD could be used to improve maritime workspace and interface design, as well as the design of procedures and shipborne operations. However, due to the specifics of the maritime domain, the authors propose that there is the need to expand the HCD perspective, making the design not only fit a single user, but to fit the crew as part of a maritime socio-technical system. The paper discusses that the case for CCD is imperative in the interest of safety, efficiency and even makes economic sense

TRACEr-MAR: Technique for the retrospective & predictive analysis of cognitive errors adapted to the maritime domain

This guidebook is the first of a series of WMU Papers in Maritime and Ocean Affairs. It introduces the Human Error Identification technique TRACEr-Mar (Technique for the Retrospective and predictive Analysis of Cognitive Errors adapted to the Maritime Domain). Modern socio-technical systems had witnessed a complex co-evolution and interaction of both social and technical aspects in the day-to-day reality. However, when an accident occurs in such complex systems, accident causation models always have to simplify the reality and may therefore be limited for fully understanding all the aspects involved in the failing of the maritime socio-technical system involved in that accident. In order to carry out an accident investigation that covers the needs of a particular investigator, different tools exist. A systematic accident analysis requires a full methodological framework consisting of a model to support the focus of the investigation, a related data taxonomy, a methodology for the application of the taxonomy and an outline of the analysis of the findings. This guidebook provides the necessary information for such a framework, TRACEr-Mar, as adapted to the Maritime domain. This framework focusses on human machine interfaces and the related decision making during maritime operations. The guidebook is addressed to practitioners and researchers determined to apply the TRACEr-Mar technique to maritime accident investigations

On Common Ground at Sea: The Proactive Negotiation for Channel Navigation

The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) provides support to marine traffic in congested waters to ensure safe and smooth vessel movement in the waters under its purview. The VTS operators monitor the traffic with the decision support system at hand and talk to the ships on the Very High Frequency (VHF) radio. Safe channel navigation is proactively achieved by interaction and communication on the radio. Thus traffic management within the VTS domain is a complex joint activity, in which diverse stakeholders (bridge teams, VTS operators, pilots etc.) adopt one or more available communicative roles within technologically-mediated interactions to achieve safe and fluent traffic movement. This paper argues that the communicative achievement of channel navigation is a complex joint activity requiring the building up and active sustenance of common ground to promote teamwork and contribute to safe and efficient vessel movements. Monitoring common ground is integral to monitoring oceangoing traffic. This paper draws upon data from the audio recordings of the working channel of the VTS in a major South Asian world port. The authors argue that the proactive, real-time dynamic management of common ground contributes to enhanced situational awareness and sustains safe channel navigation

Team training in safety and security via simulation: a practical dimension of maritime education and training

In the rather extended maritime domain, a term that should be the epicentre of any successful careerbuilding path is tailor-made training via cutting-edge simulators. To cut a long story short, the breadth of operations on the various types of ships has expanded to such a large extent that extensive practical training drills are becoming a compelling need to contribute to competent seafarers. This type of training can guarantee the positive outcome in their decision-making process and help the seafarers often being under continuous pressure, to suitably respond to the various safety and security threats on-board a vessel. The several conventions and codes introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – including MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), but moreover ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) and STCW (Standards of Training Certification and Watch-keeping) being probably the most well-known examples both within and outside the maritime community – posing and requesting significant performance demands on crews. Sophisticated simulation series that promote teamwork and cooperation are the tools urgently needed to maximize training efficacy. Handling safety situations under stress (emergency response), crisis management and reactions towards a security incident are important aspects of Maritime Education and Training (MET). The authors’ approach to address those aspects utilizes enhanced simulation based team training. They argue that an effective way to gain experience and achieve corresponding skills, are practice runs on specially designed simulators that realistically represent complex conditions on-board vessels, following the respective prompts though realistic scenarios. The concept of a safety & security training simulator is introduced; the research work related to the implementation of a learning objective oriented development of simulation training scenarios and the pedagogic value added by simulation to MET are also discussed. A very important recommendation is that maritime training needs should not be regarded simply as a means to achieve regulatory compliance. The value imparted by simulation as a pedagogic tool to the maritime teaching and learning process is tremendous; adopting the learning objective oriented development of simulation training scenarios in order to effectively address pre-identified learning outcomes is the right methodology to nurture competent seafarers

A Prospective Study to Assess the Clinicopathological and Histological Grade of Oral Malignancy and Its Effect on the Prognosis of the Patients

Background: Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. It has long been accepted that tobacco consumption including smokeless tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption are the principal etiologic factors for the development of oral cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the clinicopathological and histological grade of oral malignancy and its effect on the prognosis of the patients. Material & Methods: A prospective study done on 50 patients with oral cavity cancer with or without secondary whose histopathology showing only squamous cell carcinoma in department of ENT at Government Medical College, Pali, Rajasthan, India. The patients age, sex, Habits, socio economic status, premalignant conditions, clinical features, site of oral cavity, staging, histopathology were recorded. Sites of the lesion were subdivided into lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, gingiva, alveolar mucosa, palate, buccal/labial mucosa, maxilla and mandible. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 24.0. Results: The present study showed that most patients both male and female belongs to 45-65 years of age groups (80%). Male preponderance and majority of patients belongs to lower socio-economic status (60%). Out of 50, 35 patients are pan masala chewers, 40 patients are betel nut chewers and 22 patients are smokers in our study. Majority of patients in this groups present with ulceroproliferative growth of oral malignancy covering 88% of patients. Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was the major histopathological type. Majority of the patient in this study groups are in Grade G1 (well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). Buccal mucosa was the most common site of oral cancer reported in 64% and Tongue was the next common site 26%. Conclusion: This study highlights some anatomical locations where oral cancers are frequently encountered. As a result, clinicians should pay attention to not only teeth, but oral mucosa especially in the high prevalence area as well since early detection of precancerous lesions or cancers in the early stage increase the chance of patient being cured and greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity

Introducing the Concept of Resilience into Maritime Safety

Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) is a structured methodology in maritime safety rule making processes. FSA takes organizational, technical and human-related factors into concern. While the method allows for the use of expert input during the identification of hazards and risk control options, the FSA guidelines give preference to assessment methods grounded in quantitative risk assessment. No specific guidance is given on how expert input should be obtained. This article therefore presents the findings of a pilot study with the objective to introduce the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) as a method to enrich FSA studies through structured expert input. Two focus groups (n = 6) were conducted to compare hazards and risk control options identified in one scenario with the help of fault tree analysis and FRAM. The results of the study show that FRAM has the potential to enrich hazard identification as a complementary tool