Fathoming Maritime Communications: A University Study

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Fathoming Maritime Communications: A University Study

A PhD research study from the University of Southern Denmark suggests ways of improving communications on board ships and between ships and land based units.

Improved automation and technological advancement on board ships and between ships as well as land based units have contributed to reducing human error in the maritime industry. But they have not completely eliminated the risks of errors. Some researchers have argued that an over-reliance on technology has even contributed to creating new human weaknesses and somewhat aggravated the existing ones. Therefore it is vital to analyse humans' relationship with technology. How to reduce human errors? Some studies have suggested that a close pre-scripted interaction is put in place but others have demonstrated that pre-scripted interaction is not always successfully realised. But interaction between humans and technology is not the only challenge in a maritime setting. Diversity in crew and land staff composition can also pose a variety of problems including communication and language difficulties. The adoption of the English language as a standard way for communicating amongst crews, between ships and between the latter and their land based units poses many problems that can lead to misunderstandings with serious consequences such as loss of life or damage to the ship or to the environment. Something comparable has happened in the field of aviation where limited English language skills of pilots and Air Traffic Controllers have contributed to serious accidents. A PhD study from the University of Southern Denmark, titled “The Communicative Blue” and co-funded by The Lauritzen Foundation, focusses on the twin challenges of the pre-scripted interaction within crews and between ships and land bases and how this interaction occurs within the complex technological setting of a ship, i.e. how humans interact with technology.

As in the medical and the aviation industries, the maritime industry has already recognised the field of “human factors” as a vital part of improving performance and safety. The study argues that this sector is under-researched and more knowledge is needed on the way humans interact with technology. The dissertation from the University of Southern Denmark is based on an analytical approach using methods from psychology and ethnomethodology. It will be published in the autumn of 2011 and has already been presented at a series of conferences including the 9th International Symposium of Maritime Health and Safety and the Blue Conference. PRESS4TRANSPORT is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)


A workshop on this study was conducted recently at the International Maritime Lecturers Association Conference in Rotterdam. The preliminary results of the research show that maritime communication is very distinctive. Pre-scripted activities are not always followed and are interpreted by speakers on the VHF radio in a manner that is more affected by what is happening in context without affecting safety. Culture is not always a critical factor in interaction between non-national team members. The aim of the Ph.D. project is thus to analyse pre-scripted technologically mediated routine and non-routine interaction between non-native English speakers in the maritime industry. It will further contribute to a discussion on the sequential organisation of trans-located and co-located interaction in complex technological settings between user and device. For more information please contact: llf@maritimecenter.dk The Communicative Blue University of Southern Denmark

PRESS4TRANSPORT is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)


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