Safety culture onboard marine tanker vessels - And suggestive improvements for a greater safety culture maturity

Abstract

In this study, the current safety culture onboard tanker vessels specifically, were researched. The research consisted of ways to determine on what level of safety culture the various vessels were operating and if there was any room for improvement. This was possible by sending out online survey to seafarers that have worked or currently working on tanker vessels. Moreover, interviews with shipping company security officers, which provided an insight into how the shipping companies operate regarding safety. Flemmings model and the Bradley curve model were used to analyse the results of the surveys and the interviews which provided a comprehensive overview of the safety culture in the vessels and companies that were investigated. Based on the Flemmings model and the data collected from interviews and surveys, the maturity level of safety culture is assessed to be at a cooperative stage. This entails a level of safety culture maturity where individuals and organizations actively collaborate and work together to promote and maintain a safe working environment. Moreover, according to the Bradley curve model the average SCI or safety culture index was rated at 0.76 out of 1.0. Since 1 is the highest on the index, 0.76 is a high rating of safety culture. Overall, the safety culture onboard tanker vessels that were studied was rated at a high and safe level. The study could have been more precise if more participants were willing to participate in the surveys and interviews. Furthermore, the study was limited to Sweden and therefore Swedish tanker vessels were targeted.