The possible application of Formal Safety Assessment to dredging vessel operations
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVII: "Dredging in a Sensitive Environment" - 2004, Hamburg, Germany
Authors:
By Frederik J. Mink *
Abstract: IMO, the International Maritime Organisation, has issued provisional guidelines for the application of Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) to vessel design and operation. This paper outlines the understanding of FSA as laid down in the IMO guidelines (1997) and applied subsequently to some vessel categories.
The paper than describes the four systems levels that play a role in vessel operation, namely Technical systems, Human factors, Organisational structure and the Marine context. It indicates the proper analytical and assessment tools appropriate for each level and type of system and provides typical examples (Event trees, Impact diagram, Human factors) for an application to dredging vessels.
The next step is a discussion of scenarios characterising the spectrum of marine operating conditions, with special emphasis on threats to safety. The key element is to allocate threats to safety to the proper systems level.
In the final analysis conclusions are drawn on the limitations, the strengths and the weaknesses of the FSA concept. Recommendations are formulated concerning the tools that help to safeguard dredging vessel operations. The paper concludes that FSA as a tool is effective for scenario based accident investigations, but is not very practical for a priori quantitative assessment.
Keywords: Safety assessment - Hazards - Risk