What is the problem?
Distraction is a growing and life-threatening problem in all modes
of transportation. Vessel operators don’t always have their eyes or
minds on the waterway, but we know that focusing on or thinking
about anything other than vessel operation can lead to tragic
consequences. Increased use of portable electronic devices (PEDs)
among commercial transportation employees has made distractions
more prevalent and is an increasing risk in vessel operations.
In heavily regulated transportation industries like marine, communicating
with crew and dispatchers, checking instruments and equipment,
and completing scheduled tasks may be part of normal work
duties, but engaging in tasks other than vessel operation impairs performance.
Federal regulations should prohibit the nonoperational use
of cell phones and other wireless electronic devices by on-duty crewmembers
in safety-critical positions, but no such regulation exists.
In the last decade, we have investigated several marine accidents
in which distraction was a cause or contributing factor. One of the
most prominent accidents occurred in July 2010, when the 250 footlong
sludge barge The Resource, which was being towed alongside
the 78.9-foot–long tugboat Caribbean Sea, collided with the
anchored 33-foot–long amphibious passenger vehicle DUKW 34 in
the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a result of the
collision, DUKW 34 sank in about 55 feet of water. Two passengers
were fatally injured, and 26 passengers suffered minor injuries.
Contributing to the distraction problem is the widespread belief by
many that they can multitask and still safely operate a vessel. But
multitasking is a myth; humans can only focus cognitive attention
on one task at a time.
What can be done?
In Februray 2019, NTSB determined the following:
The consequences of visual, manual, cognitive, and auditory
distractions can be seen in all modes of transportation. In commercial
operations, all safety-critical personnel must commit to minimizing
distractions, and vessel operators should develop policies to reduce
distraction. Distraction must be managed—even engineered out—to
ensure safe operations. A cultural change is needed for all marine
personnel to understand that their safety and the safety of others
depends on disconnecting from deadly distractions.
To address the problem of distraction, the
following actions should be taken:
Vessel Operators
- Keep your eyes and mind on vessel operation; do not use PEDs
inappropriately, and minimize other distractions, such as nonessential
conversations. Vessel control and safe handling must be maintained
at all times until the ship is safely anchored or moored. Remember,
cell phone use while underway is a violation of the US Coast Guard
Navigation Rules, which require mariners to maintain a proper
“lookout” by sight and sound.
Owners/Safety Managers
- Establish policies and practices to combat distractions in
commercial operations. For decades, the aviation mode has
recognized the need for “sterile cockpit” procedures that restrict
activities and conversations within the cockpit to the task at hand.
The marine industry should recognize the benefits of this procedure
and limit extraneous activities and conversation on deck by vessel
operators. Prohibit the use of phones for nonoperational purposes
and educate crewmembers on the degraded performance that
comes with multitasking and cognitive distractions.
Regulators
- Prohibit the nonoperational use of cell phones and other wireless
electronic devices by on-duty crewmembers in safety-critical
positions.
- Continue to build technical understanding of auxiliary task
distraction in regulated transportation, especially with regard to new
vessel technologies that require real-time operator attention. Use
the advances in these areas to support regulatory efforts that lead
operators toward a cultural norm that encourages and supports a
complete disconnect from distractions.
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