Development of risk-based ranking measures of effectiveness for the United States Coast Guard's vessel inspection program

Abstract

This paper describes the results of an analysis of the effectiveness of the U.S. Coast Guard's efforts to promote the safety of life and property at sea through its program to inspect large, ocean-going vessels. The effectiveness of specific U.S. Coast Guard vessel inspection activities was evaluated using risk-based metrics that linked categories of root causes of accidents to the particular inspection activities designed to reduce the risk of each root cause category. The results demonstrate a risk-based ranking of USCG inspection activities. These metrics, describes as measures of effectiveness (MOEs), yield insights regarding the most beneficial areas in which to concentrate inspection resources. Insights regarding quality of vessel casualty investigation data and database design as related to risk- based importance analysis are also discussed. The MOEs constructed in this study are specific to the USCG's Marine Inspection and Boarding Program, but the methodology of the study is based on sound theoretical principles that are probably applicable to a range of maritime safety activities. Hence the methodology applies equally to other important governmental regulatory programs and can be similarly used to measure their effectiveness and as an aid to decision-making.