Navigational Audit

From times immemorial, navigational errors have often lead to catastrophic disasters causing significant loss of lives and damages to ship, property, and environment.

The modern complexities of the integrated bridge layouts and the addition of many new types of navigational equipment have only added to the problems. Adding the lack of training and familiarization of the navigational watchkeeper enhances the chances of navigational accidents.

These problems can be considerably reduced if the company has implemented a robust set of procedures for safely conducting the business of navigation. To ensure that the company’s vessels are navigated as per the Company Nautical Procedures in the SMS, the Marine Surveyor Consultant Sagl inspectors can carry out a thorough Navigational Audit on the owner’s request.

The purpose of these audits is to identify and rectify the navigational deficiencies well in advance with a view to avoiding any accidents or maritime casualties. It is recommended that these audits are carried out in a dynamic situation ( during sailings) to verify the response of the bridge team during different navigational situations.

A review of recent P&I club statistics shows that a high proportion of the navigational class of claims can still be attributed to ineffective procedures, ignorance of bridge watchkeeping best practice, poor bridge team management, and ineffective communication. The recurring issues that lead to claims such as poor lookout, lack of situational awareness and complacency cannot easily be identified during a port visit or paper audit and, to that end, pro-active risk managers have recognized that effective navigational practice and procedure can only be accurately assessed whilst on a relevant sea passage incorporating port departure, passage and arrival events. This view seems to be gaining more momentum in the sector and Marine Surveyor Consultant Sagl is now providing navigational audits to shipping companies. We have a number of surveyors that have the relevant experience and training to conduct thorough audits and report accordingly. Reporting is comprehensive and includes a full assessment of navigational performance, with positives and negatives highlighted and clear recommendations made in line with best practice. We can supply our own format adjusted to the circumstances of the audit, or follow a specified/provided format.

Remote Navigational Assessment + VDR Audit

A Remote Navigation Audit provides an objective independent check by a trained auditors team that the right procedures are being followed on board. The human element is usually acknowledged to be a serious factor still in many shipping incidents and accidents so this audit reduces the danger of future accidents occurring.

Navigational audit will be conducted through an analysis of documentation sent be the vessel. VDR ANALYSIS is an invaluable and efficient tool to prevent ‘NAVIGATIONAL INCIDENTS’. In spite of various advancements in technological tools, the importance of “Situational Awareness” and “Human Elements” in safe ship-board navigation is of paramount importance & remains the focus of various quality control checks through audit and inspections.

We conducts a very comprehensive VDR analysis with graphical representation of Critical parameters (depending on data extracted from VDR or SVDR onboard the vessel). It is clear that significant benefits can be derived from post-incident analysis and VDRs can help in improving safety at sea, particularly relating to:

1. Accident investigation
2. Bridge Team Training
3. Promoting best practice and accident prevention
4. Assessment of response to safety and environment emergencies
5. Reduction in insurance losses (Safety at sea, 2001).

Our VDR Analysis audit service supported by comprehensive analytics of VDR data captures the actual performance of the bridge team covering all phases of Navigation and provides detailed information/report of Bridge Team complying with the companies Navigational procedures /practices and focusses on imbibing discipline within the Bridge team.