SHARE technique: A novel approach to root cause analysis of ship accidents

Constituting the key backbone of global trade, maritime transport essentially entails in itself a number of hazards both during the navigation and during the time spent on the port due to the different structure of work environment. This complex structure of ship operations makes the occurrence of ship accidents inevitable, which might in effect critically damage the environment, the human life and the commodity. To prevent the occurrence of such results or to minimize their impacts, it matters greatly to investigate hazardous incidents having occurred for the aim of taking appropriate measures. The key reason in investigating ship accidents is to comprehend the root causes that lead to accidents and to apply the required arrangements via detecting applicable risk- minimizing strategies. Because of the unique quality of ship operations, application of current methods in root analysis may not be sufficient in some cases. In this study a root cause analysis technique SHARE (SHip Accident Root cause Evaluation) exclusive to ship accidents has been developed to assist in a global scale all related departments of maritime companies to envisage lead causes of accidents and to implement appropriate corrective actions. In this particular technique in which it is feasible to obtain numeric data, to identify stakeholders responsible in implementing corrective actions and to forge risk-minimizing strategies, a standard terminology exclusive for ship accidents has been used. Being developed on the basis of Fuzzy SWOT AHP Method, this unique technique has been validated upon applying onto an actual case of a ship accident.