Bridge Resource and Team Management

For
NO SUCH Ship Management Company

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Bridge Resource and team
Management

01st. APRIL 2019 IMO Level 1 - Operational Level (1st Responders) 2

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Introduction

In many studies, human factors

had been documented as the
main causes of marine incidents
and accidents.
These causes are deemed to
have stemmed from:

- a lack of teamwork
- a lack of competence
- a lack of safety awareness
- poor safety attitudes onboard
the ships.
- A failure to communicate 3
Bridge Resource and Team Management

Introduction
Bridge Resource and Team Management is defined as
conscientious utilization of resources, proper management of
watch keeping personnel and effective use of technical equipment,
that are available to the bridge team to ensure safe navigation and
safe mooring activities.

A key safety aspect of BRTM is the implementation of defences

against a “single-person” errors, with the aim of avoiding serious
accidents or incidents.

Case studies had consistently shown that if this “challenge and

response” aspect of BRTM is effectively understood by the
Bridge team, situations onboard the ship can improve
tremendously. 4
Bridge Resource and Team Management

Introduction

Bridge navigational procedures should be part of the Shipowner’s

Safety Management System and should be outlined as a requirement
on how the bridge is to be managed.
These guidelines can be found in the Bridge Procedures Guide.

The BRTM focuses on imparting the Officers with the following

attributes and traits:

a. Leadership qualities (decision making)

b. Professional attitude (error management)
c. Communication skills (crew management)
d. Competent working knowledge (humans and automation)
e. Relevant practical experiences (for emergency management)
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f. Be resourceful and flexible (under stressful circumstances)
Bridge Resource and Team Management

Objectives of BRTM
1. To motivate the bridge team to have better and safer
performances.
2. To indulge in good resource management.
3. To perform best practices with regard to everyday bridge
operations and planning.
4. To enhance the importance of good team work.
5. To raise the level of safety awareness through meaningful
discussions and the timely sharing of information and data.
6. To promote common BRTM values and virtues in order to
achieve a safe and conducive working environment.
7. To improve decision making so that Senior Officers will seek
input from the Bridge team before voicing his opinion.
8. To create a positive change in attitude and behavior. 6
Bridge Resource and Team Management

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Concerns of BRTM

1. Frequently, accidents in shipboard operations are caused by
resource management errors.
2. Weaknesses in Bridge organization and management had been
cited as a major cause for marine casualties worldwide.
3. Lukewarm attitude towards the “duty to intervene” by all crew
members onboard.
4. Bridge personnel are not able to anticipate and correctly
respond to the ship’s changing situation.
5. Obvious individual’s incompetence and inefficiency will become
intolerable and can lead to unjust treatment, which can further
worsen the “error chain”.

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Concerns of BRTM

ERROR CHAIN

Definition:

Error = something incorrect, a mistake.

Chain = a series of connected events.

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Concerns of BRTM

ERROR CHAIN – try to find the Error Chain on causes for grounding:

1. Failure to pre-plan a course.

2. Failure to monitor adequately the vessel’s progress along
the planned track.
3. Failure to take immediate action to regain track having
deviated from it.
4. Failure to cross-check fixes by comparing one means with
another.
5. Failure to use visual fixing when available.
6. Failure to use the echo-sounder when making a landfall or
navigating in constrained waters.
7. Failure to identify correctly navigational lights.
8. Failure to ensure that important navigational decisions are 10
independently checked by another officer.
Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Concerns of BRTM

Error Chain - Sinking of the “Herald of Free Enterprise”

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Concerns of BRTM

The Error Chain exists because certain elements of situational awareness

are missing or lacking, and certain activities are being conducted outside
procedures and not according to the plan.
In order to prevent accidents or incidents from happening, we must break
the Error Chain – break the continuity chain of events.

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

Key Benefits of BRTM

1. Good situational awareness
2. Anticipates danger in an evolving situation
3. Obtains relevant information early to maximize efficiency.
4. Effective delegation of tasks and responsibilities
5. Sets priorities in the right manner in order to achieve the desired
results.
6. Contingency plans and response actions are well understood by
Bridge team to avoid ambiguity.
7. It helps the Bridge team to recognize the development of an
“error chain”, where early action can be taken to break the
sequence.
8. It encourages participation and promotes the exchange of
information. 13
Bridge Resource and Team Management

General Watchkeeping Duties

1. The Master of every ship is bound to ensure that watch keeping

arrangements are adequate for maintaining a safe navigational
watch.

2. Under the Master's general direction, the officers of the

navigational watch are responsible for navigating the ship safely
during their periods of duty, when they will be particularly
concerned with avoiding collision and stranding.

3. The Master, officers and ratings shall be aware of the serious

effects of operational or accidental pollution of the marine
environment.
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Bridge Resource and Team Management

General Watchkeeping Duties

4. The Master, officers and ratings shall take all possible
precautions to prevent such pollution, particularly within the
framework of relevant international and port regulations.

5. The look-out must be able to give full attention to the keeping of

a proper look-out and no other duties shall be undertaken or
assigned which could interfere with that task.

6. At no time shall the Bridge be left unattended.

7. A proper record shall be kept during the watch of the

movements and activities relating to the navigation of the ship.
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Bridge Resource and Team Management

General Watchkeeping Duties

8. On any ship safely moored or safely at anchor under normal

circumstances in port, the Master shall arrange for an
appropriate and effective watch to be maintained for the
purpose of safety.

9. Arrangements for keeping a deck watch when the ship is in port

shall at all times be adequate to ensure the safety of life, of the
ship, the port and the environment, and the safe operation of all
machinery related to cargo operation.

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Bridge Resource and Team Management

General Watchkeeping Duties

10. In an emergency threatening the safety of the ship, raise the

alarm, inform the Master, take all possible measures to prevent
any damage to the ship, its cargo and persons on board, and,
if necessary, request assistance from the shore authorities or
neighboring ships.

11. The master of every ship carrying cargo that is hazardous,

whether explosive, flammable, toxic, health-threatening or
environment-polluting, shall ensure that safe watchkeeping
arrangements are maintained.

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END

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