SHIELD Seeks More Data to Tackle Human Error in Maritime Safety

By Faridat Salifu
The University of Strathclyde is urging ship operators, safety professionals, and accident investigators to contribute data to the Safety Human Incident & Error Learning Database (SHIELD) to improve the understanding of human factors behind maritime incidents.
Launched in 2022 as part of the EU’s SAFEMODE project, SHIELD has already seen adoption from major cruise lines, a UK ferry operator, and safety agencies across Europe and Asia.
However, for SHIELD to make a significant impact on maritime safety and policy, more comprehensive data is needed, says Rafet Emek Kurt, head of the university’s Maritime Human Factors Centre.
Kurt, who led the maritime development of SHIELD, explained that while human error has long been recognized as a critical factor in shipping safety, the industry’s response—such as increasing safety procedures and training—has proven ineffective in reducing incidents.
“Adding more procedures and checklists simply overloads the seafarer’s cognitive load and doesn’t address the root cause of accidents,” Kurt remarked.
He emphasized that SHIELD’s platform offers crucial insights into human components in safety risk models, helping ship managers, policymakers, and shipbuilders better understand and mitigate the factors contributing to accidents.
The SHIELD taxonomy goes beyond traditional safety analysis by considering a wide range of influences on human performance, including stress, fatigue, situation awareness, and teamwork. It also evaluates organizational structures, leadership, and socioeconomic factors that play a role in maritime incidents.
Kurt noted that, until now, the maritime sector has struggled to incorporate human factors into its decision-making, leading to limited safety improvements and persistent accidents.
SHIELD’s approach aims to shift the industry’s focus, offering actionable insights for naval architects, equipment manufacturers, and regulators to design safer, more effective systems and policies.
“SHIELD represents a paradigm shift in how the shipping industry approaches safety,” Kurt said, adding, “By using accident data more effectively, we can move beyond just labeling incidents as ‘human error’ and uncover the real causes, creating a safer and more sustainable maritime industry.”
Shipowners are encouraged to engage with the Maritime Human Factors Centre to harness the full potential of SHIELD and improve safety across the industry.