Integrated Risk Control in Maritime Safety Systems

Assignment Brief — Assessment 1: Marine Operations Risk and Safety Management

Module Title: Marine Risk and Safety Systems
Module Code: MOPS7014
Level: 7 (Postgraduate)
Weighting: 60%
Submission Deadline: Week 8, Trimester 1
Word Count: 3,000 words (+/-10%)
Submission Format: Individual Technical Report (via Turnitin)

Assessment Task

Produce a structured technical report evaluating the operational, legal, and regulatory dimensions of risk and safety management in maritime operations. The report must:

1. Analyse risk assessment methodologies applied to shipboard and port operations.

2. Evaluate compliance requirements under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and SOLAS frameworks.

3. Assess the integration of human factors, automation, and organisational culture in marine safety performance.

4. Conduct a case-based evaluation of one maritime incident from the last ten years, identifying procedural, human, and regulatory breakdowns.

5. Recommend data-driven strategies for enhancing risk control, reporting systems, and compliance verification.

Learning Outcomes

• LO1: Demonstrate systematic understanding of maritime safety management frameworks.

• LO2: Critically assess how regulatory and human factors affect risk control effectiveness.

• LO3: Apply quantitative and qualitative risk analysis techniques to maritime operations.

• LO4: Formulate improvement strategies aligned with IMO, flag state, and class society standards.

Assessment Criteria

Guidance

• Use Harvard referencing.

• Minimum of eight peer-reviewed academic or professional sources from 2019–2025.

• Prioritise primary sources: IMO conventions, accident investigation reports, and class society publications.

• Avoid narrative writing. Maintain analytical and technical register throughout.

Bibliography References 

1. Bhattacharya, S. and Tang, L. (2020). Marine safety management and human error: A systems approach. Safety Science, 130, 104876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104876

2. Schröder-Hinrichs, J-U., Baldauf, M., and Ghirxi, K. (2019). Maritime safety culture: From theory to implementation. Maritime Policy & Management, 46(3), 313–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2018.1556651

3. Chauvin, C. (2021). Human factors in maritime transport: Progress and challenges. Applied Ergonomics, 97, 103542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103542

4. Lappalainen, J., Kuronen, J., and Tapaninen, U. (2022). Safety management in shipping companies: Empirical findings on ISM Code performance. WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 21(1), 69–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-021-00256-9

5. Johnsen, S. and Veen, M. (2023). Automation, human oversight, and maritime safety governance. Ocean Engineering, 281, 114912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.114912