MARITIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AS A KEY MEASURE FOR SAFE SHIP OPERATION

Abstract

The maritime industry is a high-risk industry, which constantly has to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment. Therefore, understanding the essence of "situational awareness" is very important for making the right decision. In this regard, it is obvious that a correct situation analysis, based on a theoretical basis, creates the proper prerequisites for making the right decision in a developing situation, and vice versa. Considering this fact, this article proposes to study the factors that influence this phenomenon, their regularities and connections. It presents the data of a survey among seafarers to determine the level of understanding of situational awareness as a predominant component of the human factor in most accidents in the maritime industry.