The following is the text of a news release from The Nautical Institute:
(LONDON) — Bad ship design can make life on board difficult and uncomfortable, cause accidents and even kill. Naval architects have a huge responsibility, but few of them have direct experience of how their designs affect those who use them. "Improving Ship Operational Design," published Wednesday by The Nautical Institute, hopes to make maritime operations safer and more effective by giving ship designers an insight into how those on board work and live.
The book was launched at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects’ (RINA) conference, where naval architects and others involved in ship design discussed the issue of human factors in ship design and operation. RINA’s Chief Executive Trevor Blakeley said, “This conference at RINA HQ is an appropriate place and occasion to launch this important publication. Successful ship design must be a team effort, in which engineers and operators together share their expertise and experience. 'Improving Ship Operational Design' will make an invaluable contribution to achieving safer and more effective ships.”
Much of "Improving Ship Operational Design" is the result of the European Union research program CyClaDes, which looked at the design and operation of ships and ship systems. One of the findings of the project was that many designers do not have practical seafaring experience or direct access to seafarers. Naval architect Apsara Abeysiriwardhane said the book is a “great initiative” to fill the gap in practical experience and provides “excellent guidance.” Abeysiriwardhane said that readers will gain “a strong practical insight on ships’ operational aspects and end-user requirements.”
In the foreword, Nina Kahler Dipl Ing, coordinator of the CyClaDes Project, says, “Statistics show that the human factor is a critical element in up to 80 percent of ship accidents. This new publication focuses on the integration of the human element into the design process.”
The second edition of "Improving Ship Operational Design" gives an insight into the needs of the shipowner, operational requirements, onboard living requirements and the user-centered perspective .
Capt. Margareta Lutzhoft, one of 48 experts who contributed to the book, said that good design was essential as bad design leads seafarers to create workarounds, “which is not the solution." This book aims to help naval architects and ship designers to ensure that these problems do not continue.
"Improving Ship Operational Design," second edition, is available from The Nautical Institute. For more information, visit www.nautinst.org/pubs.
