Steven Mallam

Ship Engine Control Room Design Analysis of Current Human Factors & Ergonomics Regulations & Future Directions

A ships’ engine control room (ECR) is of central importance to the engine department and overall vessel operation. Modern day ships are becoming increasingly technologically sophisticated and computerization has a growing presence in the engine department. A large portion of marine engineering duties are now dedicated to remotely managing equipment from the ECR. In order to optimize control room design and layout from a user-centered perspective numerous safety-critical industries have implemented mandatory regulations which utilize human factors and ergonomics (HF&E) knowledge. However, shipping’s highest governing body, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) currently lacks regulatory support in this area. This paper examines international mandatory regulations and non-mandatory guidelines regarding the human element which influence ECR design. Analysis reveals that a disconnect exists between the regulations which specify ship design criteria and those which specify seafarer training competencies and safe operational procedures. From a regulatory perspective ECR design does not support ECR operation. Assessment of current regulatory gaps establishes a base for developing engine department-specific HF&E applications. Safer shipping practices can be fostered by facilitating operational demands through work environment design. However, due to the complexity of international shipping laws mandatory regulations are the only way to ensure effective implementation.

Evaluating a digital ship design tool prototype: Designers’ perceptions of novel ergonomics software

Computer-aided solutions are essential for naval architects to manage and optimize technical complexities when developing a ships design. Although there are an array of software solutions aimed to optimize the human element in design, practical ergonomics methodologies and technological solutions have struggled to gain widespread application in ship design processes. This paper explores how a new ergonomics technology is perceived by naval architecture students using a mixed-methods framework. Thirteen Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Masters students participated in the study. Overall, results found participants perceived the software and its embedded ergonomics tools to benefit their design work, increasing their empathy and ability to understand the work environment and work demands end-users face. However, participants questioned if ergonomics could be practically and efficiently implemented under real-world project constraints. This revealed underlying social biases and a fundamental lack of understanding in engineering postgraduate students regarding applied ergonomics in naval architecture.

The physical work environment and end-user requirements: Investigating marine engineering officers' operational demands and ship design

BACKGROUND Physical environments influence how individuals perceive a space and behave within it. Previous research has revealed deficiencies in ship engine department work environments, and their impact on crew productivity, health and wellbeing. OBJECTIVE Connect operational task demands to pragmatic physical design and layout solutions by implementing a user-centric perspective. METHODS Three focus groups, each consisting of three marine engineers participated in this study. Focus groups were divided into two sessions: first, to investigate the end-users operational requirements and their relationship with ship physical design and layout. Second, criteria formulated from group discussions were applied to a ship design case study. All focus group sessions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using Grounded Theory. RESULTS Design choices made in a ships general arrangement were described to inherently influence how individuals and teams are able to function within the system. Participants detailed logistical relationships between key areas, stressing that the work environment and physical linkages must allow for flexibility of work organization and task execution. CONCLUSIONS Traditional engine control paradigms do not allow effective mitigation of traditional engine department challenges. The influence of technology and modernization of ship systems can facilitate improvement of physical environments and work organization if effectively utilized.

Designing for safe operations: promoting a human-centred approach to complex vessel design

ABSTRACT The benefits of a human-centred approach to design have been widely recognised throughout industry, in the research community and by regulatory bodies. In the maritime domain, it is also beginning to make an impact. This article explores how a human-centred approach may successfully be achieved within the context of ship design using a case study from a project to create conceptual designs for two offshore wind turbine installation vessels. Using vessel designs as a mediating tool between designers, users and human factors specialists, basic task analysis and link analysis methods were used to incorporate operational knowledge into the design process. After applying this to the integration of a dynamic positioning system on one of the vessels, the designers concluded that a human-centred approach had improved not only ship safety, but also safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in operations.

Integrating Participatory Practices in Ship Design and Construction

Ship procurement is a globalized, multidisciplinary development process that demands lean manufacturing solutions for the highly competitive and safety-critical shipping industry. This article presents the software prototype E-SET (Ergonomic Ship Evaluation Tool), specifically created to facilitate participatory design processes throughout ship development. E-SET is a diagnostic visualization tool that utilizes digital renderings of ship’s drawings to quantitatively calculate, map, and evaluate movement of crew and their work tasks throughout a ship’s structure. This flexible and accessible digital platform facilitates multidisciplinary stakeholder knowledge transfer in order to implement and optimize user-centered design solutions in ship design.

Supporting participatory practices in ship design and construction - Challenges and opportunities

The maritime shipping industry is a safety-critical domain where onboard work organization continues to evolve with advancing technologies. Recent research has revealed that altering operational conditions and task demands are not supported or optimized by typical onboard working environments. The application of ergonomics and participatory design practices in ship design and construction is generally not well supported by regulation or implemented by designers. The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyse the potential of practical application of ergonomics and participatory design practices in ship design and construction. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and PEST (political, economic, social and technological) analyses were used to investigate the internal, and of particular interest, the external macro-environmental factors of the shipping industry which influence the success of ergonomics applications in ship development processes.

Immersion Suit Donning in Dynamic Environments: Implications for Design, Construction & Use

Marine abandonment immersion suits are a vital piece of safety equipment intended to protect individuals from exposure to harsh environmental elements. The operational effectiveness of a well maintained and fitted suit depends on the ability of a user to correctly don a suit system. Thirty‐two participants performed immersion suit donning trials in six experimental conditions. Dynamic, pre‐abandonment marine emergency scenarios were simulated using a six degrees of freedom motion platform and varying environmental lighting levels. This article details user‐suit interaction challenges encountered throughout immersion suit donning tasks and examines their connection to safety and survival in marine emergencies. Analysis of user‐suit functionality during the donning process is critical for identifying current deficiencies in order to develop future design solutions, training methodologies and ultimately improve users’ practical competencies.

Visualizing design problems and solutions of workstations on ships

The prevailing knowledge of ergonomics is not always taken into consideration while designing ships or introduced too late for it to be effective. Studies have shown that improvements of the working environment can be done with small efforts. Dissemination of research results is not always straight forward or effective due to failure to present research findings in appropriate and accessible forms for different audiences Research suggests that an interactive and explorative learning experience should be supported by technology like web resources. To reach the end users involved in the design of ships, the aim of the current study was to design and evaluate a prototype of an interactive multimedia module. The results showed good scores considering the usability aspects learning, understanding and meaningfulness. A Multimedia module like this can serve two purposes; create a learning situation and be used as a channel through which research results can be disseminated.