ABSTRACT
Reduction of maritime risk is today to an increasing degree based on systematic methods like Formal Safety Assessment (FSA), Risk-Based Design (RBD), and various formal risk analysis methods. Since the pioneering period of maritime risk analysis, a key problem has been the lack of objective quantitative data. Too often, risk models are based on subjective expert estimates. Such data shall not be discarded but should rather be a supplement to “hard” or evidence-based data. During the two last decades several flag states have established accident investigation agencies with multidisciplinary teams that document their accident findings in a systematic format. These reports are increasingly used to establish accident databases. However, there is still a lack of an international agreement on a coding scheme or what is also termed an accident taxonomy. Key elements in the taxonomy are human and organizational factors (HOF). These factors should reflect the regulatory framework, company management, vessel operation, and preconditions for unsafe acts.
