Accident susceptibility index for a passenger ship-a framework and case study

The continuous monitoring and assessment of operational vulnerability accident susceptibility passenger ships is crucial from the perspective ship safety. Despite existing solutions for monitoring, stemming mainly watertight door operations, a comprehensive framework missing in literature. Therefore, this paper offers straightforward approach, utilizing heuristics rooted solid foundations first principles related to human performance. proposed approach allows evaluation operation involved open-sea coastal navigation. presented based on observable relevant factors, known affect navigator's performance, as consequence probability. layout well parameters developed model are literature survey maritime aviation domains, knowledge elicited experts extensive simulations with use an in-house ship-ship encounter simulator. Subsequently, applied selected case studies, involving two distinctive types, namely large cruise RoPax vessel. results obtained study reveal that most their time analyzed operate negligible (87%), while 1% cases labelled very high susceptibility. remaining share 12% distributed among low, moderate values line earlier studies conducted same area but adopting different methods. solution can be onboard decision support tool, evaluating vulnerability, thus increasing crew's situational awareness. Additionally, it historical data, allowing navigational safety diagnosis implementation appropriate countermeasures.