ABSTRACT
Our main data source is a series of semi-structured interviews conducted during the first half of 2013 (Heggøy & Aae 2013). We have selected two somewhat different maritime segments as cases for exploring the research topics in this study. The first is the offshore supply segment specialized in offshore supply vessels, aimed at the offshore petroleum industry. The second is shipping companies that operate deepsea dry bulk carriers. These are vessels that carry homogeneous cargo worldwide in bulk, such as grain and minerals, stored in large cargo holds. Vessels from these two segments have different operational patterns, designs and technologies, but both are subject to the ISM Code and the regime it establishes for safety management. The companies included in the study are all wellestablished in the Norwegian shipping industry, varying in size from relatively small to large global companies. In total, six Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) managers and five vessel captains were interviewed (Table 1). Informants were selected on the basis of their involvement in on-board vessel audits. All interviews have been anonymized as regards both personal and company information. Interviews with HSEQ managers and captains from the two segments were conducted in person or by telephone. The data were then transcribed and categorized analytically.
