ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how human factors are addressed in ship design, their implementations and challenges. Research suggests that more than 80% of accidents and incidents at sea are influenced by human errors and human-related factors. Like other products or facilities in the world, a ship is designed and constructed according to a set of regulations: some are compulsory and some are voluntary. But, unlike most other products or facilities which usually follow regulations applied in the country where they are located or marketed, a ship can be designed and built according to regulations from a country with more lenient protocols. Ship design is a complex and multifaceted process, influenced by conventions, requirements and several actors. A key actor is the classification society. A classification society is an organization that establishes and applies technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of marine-related facilities including ships and offshore structures.
