375

1 RISKANALYSIS

Beforeconductingthepreliminaryhazardanalysis,it

wasnecessarytoinvestigatethechallengesrelatedto

navigationandoperationintheArctic.Thiswasdone

throughliteraturestudies,interviewswithexpertson

thefieldandreviewofstatisticaldata.(Gudmestadet

al. (1995), Koponen (2015), Kozuba and Bondaruk



(2014), Rothblaum et al. (2002), Samuelsen et al.

(2015),DNV(2010),DNVGL(2014),Rambøll(2011),

Hjelmervik et al. (2018), Dalaklis and Baxevani

(2018)).

Themainfindingsinthisresearchwereasfollows:

 The positioning systems and equipment, such as

satellite systems, gyrocompass and magnetic

compass are strongly affected

by the high

Use of Simulator Training to Mitigate Risks in Arctic

Shipping Operations

.F.Røds

UniversityofTromsø,TheArcticUniversityofNorway,Tromsø,Norway

O.T.Gudmestad

UniversityofTromsø,TheArcticUniversityofNorway,Tromsø,Norway

UniversityofStavanger,Stavanger,Norway

ABSTRACT:Overtherecentyears,shiptrafficinthepolarareashasincreased.Thereisreasontobelievethat

thistraffic,andespeciallythecruisetraffic,willincreasefurtherastheiceretractstowardsthepoles.

Thereis

alsoreasontobelievethatwiththecontinuedfocusandexposureofthePolarRegion,thecruisetourismtothe

regionwillgrow.

Theincreasedpresenceinthepolarareaswillcreatepositiverepercussionsforseveralactors,bothonseaand

land.Therewill,however,alsobechallenges

associatedwiththegrowingpresenceinthepolarareas.Vessels

willbeoperatingatlongdistancestoothervesselsandlandinfrastructures.Thesevesselswillalsobeoperating

inclimateandconditionsthatwillput extrapressureonbothvesselandcrew.These challenges need to be

solvedinorderfor

theshipindustrytooperatesafelyinthePolarRegion.

To ensure that companies operating in these areas identify and manage these challenges, the International

Maritime Organization (IMO) developed the Polar Code (2017) with the intent of increasing the safety for

vessels operating in polar waters, and to reduce the

impact on humans and environment in this remote,

vulnerableandharsharea.Thiscodedefinesanumberofrequirements,withwhichthevesselsshouldoperate

inaccordancewith.

Inthispaper,werevealwhichchallengesthevesselanditscrewneedtodealwithwhennavigatinginpolar

waters.Thechallenges

willbeanalysedandassessedthroughtheuseofapreliminaryqualitativeriskanalysis

todeterminethepotentialhazardsthevesselisexposedtounderoperationsinpolarwaters,andtofindout

whatlevelofriskthedifferenthazardsrepresentsforthevesselanditscrew.Themainobjective

ofthepaperis

tofindouthowtherisklevelscanbereduced,withparticularfocusontheuseofsimulatortrainingasarisk

reducing measure. The final goal is to measure the risk towards acceptance criteria, which have been

determinedpriortoconductingtheanalysis.



http://www.transnav.eu

the International Journal

on Marine Navigation

and Safety of Sea Transportation

Volume 13

Number 2

June 2019

DOI:10.12716/1001.13.02.14

376

latitudes. Communication isalso challengingdue

tolongdistancesandlackofinfrastructure.

 Anotherfactortoconsideraretheconditionsofthe

physical environmental. Both vessel and vital

equipmentcanbeseverelyaffectedbyicingunder

given circumstances. Cold climate can also affect

equipmentinotherways,e.g.by

reducingpower

sourcecapacity.

 Challenges connected to human error were

investigatedindetail,ashumanerroristhemain

sourceofmaritimecasualties.Studiesofliterature

and statistical data showed that arctic operating

conditionswouldincreasethepossibilityofseveral

kinds of human errors such as fatigue,

complacency,poor

judgementetc.

 As a final part of the work to identify the

challenges of operation under arctic conditions,

navigation in ice was discussed, as this is a vital

partofoperationsintheArctic.

Based on the findings related to operation and

navigation in the Arctic, a preliminary hazard

analysis was conducted. How to determine the risk

connected to different kind of problems related to

arcticoperating conditions is, however, difficult due

to lack of available statistical data. The conducted

qualitative risk assessment was therefore strongly

dependentonliteraturereviewandexpertopinions.

Thepreliminaryhazardanalysisisshownbelow

in

Table1.Theresultsaresummarizedintheriskmatrix

inTable2.Thesuggestedacceptcriteriarepresentour

best assessment. Note that a wide ALARP region

(yellowcolor in Table 2) is suggested to ensure that

cost benefit analysis can be incorporated. Table 3

shows the risk matrix with

 mitigating measures

implemented. The effects of simulator training are

highlighted.

Table1.PreliminaryHazardAnalysis

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hazard ProblemCausePossibleconsequences  Prerisk‐ RiskPostrisk‐

numberreducing reducingreducing

measuresmeasuresmeasures

riskrisk

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Naturalandenvironmentalhazards

1.1Icingonhull Icingduetoseaspray Reducedstability,reduced P:3  Heatingofhulland P:2

andmetrologicalfactors maneuverability,danger C:D  equipment,manual C:B

ofequipmentfailureremovingofice

1.2Difficultyto Wave‐,wind‐orcurrent‐Troublefollowingthe  P:4  Planningbasedon P:2

keepthevesselforcesaffectingthe  intendedroute,possible C:D  weather‐information, C:B

oncourse  movementofthevesselgrounding.adequatemonitoring

throughthewaterofthevoyage,well

trainedpersonnel

1.3Reduced  Icingonwindows,  Difficulttonavigatebythe P:4  Deicingofwindows,P:2

visibilityreducedvisibilityduetouseofopticaltechniques, C:D planningbasedon  C:B

fog,snoworrain.  difficulttodetectotherweatherinformation,

vesselsorobstacles(ice),useofotherequipment

possiblegroundingorfornavigationalpurposes, 

collisiontrainingofpersonnel

Failureandinaccuracyofequipment

2.1LossofGNSSblackoutNopositionavailable,  P:2 Redundancy,training P:1

GNSS‐positionECDISfailure,possible C:C ofpersonnelC:B

grounding

2.2Inaccuracyfor Satellite‐geometry,  WrongpositiondisplayedP:3 Useofmorethanone P:2

GNSS‐position manipulationofsatellite touser,wrongpositionasC:C satellitesystem,trainingC:B

signalECDIS‐input,possibleofpersonnel

grounding

2.3Freezingof  Icingonantenna,Wrongpositiondisplayed P:3 Deicingofantenna,  P:1

GNSS‐position failureofreceiver  touser,wrongpositionasC:C redundancy,training C:B

ECDIS‐input,possibleofpersonnel

grounding

2.4GyroFailure Blackout,mechanical Noheading‐information P:1 Redundancy,heading P:1

Failureprovidedtouser,C:D frommagneticcompass, C:B

ECDIS‐failuretrainingofpersonnel

2.5GyroInaccuracyHighlatitude,high  Wrongheading‐informationP:5 Manualorautomatic P:4

speed,steeringN‐/S‐  providedtouser,wrong C:C compensationforerror,C:A

courseheadingasECDISanduseofmoreadvanced

radarinputcompasses,monitoring

ofvoyage,trainingof

personnel

2.6Magnetic  Frozenfluid,Noheadingfrommagnetic P:1 NoriskreducingP:1

compassfailure mechanicalfailure  compassprovidedforuser C:A measuresneededC:A

2.7Magnetic  Magneticdeviation,Wrongheading‐P:5 Manualcompensation P:3

compass   magneticvariation,  informationfrommagneticC:A forerror,monitoringof C:A

inaccuracy  un‐calibratedcompass compassprovidedforuservoyage,trainingof

personnel

Humanerrors

3.1FatigueLackofsleep,Reducedattention,P:4 Reducedtimeonwatch, P:3

darkness,daylight  increasedresponsetime, C:D extralookout,training C:C

possiblegrounding/collisionofpersonnel

3.2Complacency Longwatcheswith   Reducedattention,  P:3 Reducedtimeonwatch,P:2

377

littleactionincreasedresponsetime, C:D extracrew,attitude  C:C

possiblegrounding/collisionforming,trainingof

personnel

3.3Inadequate  Specialequipmentonly Increasedresponsetime, P:3 Checklists,follow‐upon P:1

technical  usedundercertain  wronguseofequipment, C:D crew‐competence,extraC:C

knowledge  circumstances(Ice‐radar,possiblegrounding/collisioncrew,trainingof

ice‐charts)personnel

3.4PoorLossofnight‐visiondue Navigationalerror,possibleP:2 Testingofequipment, P:1

equipment  tolightpollution,  grounding/collisionC:D userfeedback,personnelC:D

designequipmentbeingtraining

inefficientplaced

3.5Decisions  Onlyuseonemethodor Navigationalerror,possibleP:3 Checklists,attitude  P:2

basedon  aid,relayonlimitedgrounding/collisionC:D forming,trainingof  C:D

inadequate  information,personnel

information complacency

3.6Poorjudgement Lackofinformation, Navigationalerror,possibleP:4 Checklists,attitude  P:3

lackofexperience,  grounding/collisionC:D forming,trainingof  C:D

fatigue,complacencypersonnel

3.7FaultyLackofprocedures,  Navigationalerror,possibleP:3 Regulationsandcontrol P:2

standards,  pressuretomeetgrounding/collisionC:D byauthorities,C:D

policiesor  schedules,profitfirstinspections,attitude

practicesthinkingforming

__________________________________________________________________________________________________



Table2RiskMatrixpriortomitigatingmeasures

_______________________________________________

Consequence→ AB CD  E

Probability↓ Minimal Low Medium High Very

High

_______________________________________________

5‐Veryhigh (2.7)(2.5)

4‐High(1.2),

(1.3

(3.1),

(3.6)

3‐Medium(2.2),  (1.1),

(2.3)  (3.2),

(3.3),

(3.5),

(3.7)

2‐Low(2.1)  (3.4)

1‐Verylow  (2.6)(2.4)

_______________________________________________



Table3. Risk matrix after implementation of mitigating

measures.Thosemeasuresinvolvingsimulatortrainingare

markedinbold.

_______________________________________________

Consequence→ AB CD  E

Probability↓ Minimal Low Medium High Very

High

_______________________________________________

5‐Veryhigh

4‐High(2.5)

3‐Medium  (2.7)(3.1)  (3.6)

2‐Low(1.1),(3.2)  (3.5),

(1.2),(3.7)

(1.3),

(2.2)

1‐Verylow  (2.6)  (2.1),(3.3)  (3.4)

(2.3),

(2.4)

_______________________________________________



Duringthedevelopmentofthepreliminaryhazard

analysis, we investigated how simulator training

could be used as a risk‐reducing measure for each

problem/ unwanted event. For some problems,

simulatortrainingwouldhavenoimpactontherisk

level. For other problems, simulator training was

found to have a

significant risk‐reducing effect.

Different problems and scenarios were tested in the

K‐sim Navigation simulator (Kongsberg Maritime,

2018) at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø

(UiT) to assess how the different kinds of problems

couldbesimulated.

Afterimplementationofthe suggested mitigating

measures, the risk associated with some

 of the

problems should be reduced further, if possible.

These are the problems where the risk falls in the

ALARPzone.

2 EVALUATIONBYEXPERIENCEDPILOTS

To support the findings collected during the

evaluation of problems associated with the ice‐

conditions,feedbackregarding thesimulationofice‐

conditions were collected

during a Polar Code

certification‐course at UiT in week 22, 2018. The

participantsatthiscoursewereNorwegianpilotswho

arepilotinginthewatersaroundSvalbard.Thepilots

participated in a standard simulator exercise during

thecertificationcoursesforthePolarCodeatUiT.The

exercise(usingtheK

‐simplatform)includedencounter

withseveraldifferenttypesofice,includingicebergs.

Afterthesimulationexercise,twoofthepilotsshared

theirthoughts regarding the simulation of operating

inice.Theiropinionswere:

 In general, the simulated environment is realistic

andclosetothereal‐lifescenario.

 The

visualfactorisgood,butinreallife,itiseasier

toassessthethicknessoftheice.Inthesimulator

exercise,itwasdifficulttodetectwhichicewastoo

thicktopassthrough.

 The quality of the simulated radar‐image is

satisfactorycomparedtoareal‐life

radar.Itcould,

nevertheless,notbe compared to the quality of a

real‐lifeice‐radar.

 For training of personnel who are intended to

operate in the waters around Svalbard, it will be

very useful to participate in a simulator exercise

with sludge ice and with elements of small

icebergs

 and growlers; as such conditions

represent normal operating conditions around

Svalbard.

 The use of simulator exercises can absolutely

reducetheriskinreallifesituationscomparedto

havingunexperiencedpersonnelwithouttraining.

The above‐mentioned factors are important to

keep in mind when designing exercises for use as a

378

risk‐reducing measure. The eventual weaknesses of

the simulated environment can to some degree be

compensatedforwhendesigningtheexercises.

The preliminary hazard analysis shows that

simulatortrainingcancontributeinreducingtherisk

formostofthehazardsthatarefoundtobeathreatin

polaroperating

conditions.Especiallywhenitcomes

tohumanerror,whichisthemainsourceoferrorin

themaritimeindustry,simulatortrainingisfoundto

be one of few effective ways in reducing risk. For

more technical types of errors, such as equipment

failure, simulator training is found to be useful,

but

then as an addition to conventional risk reducing

measures such as duplication of equipment, regular

maintenanceetc.

It is unquestionable that operations of vessels in

the polar area are connected with high risk due to

increased probability for accidents to happen and

increased consequences due to lack of infrastructure

and

 harsh environmental conditions. A vessel

operating in these areas without preparation and

adjustmentsforsuchoperationsisnotonlybreaking

the law. It is also operating under a risk level that

exposes the vessel and crew for immediate danger

that can result in loss of lives and asset values. The

preliminary risk analysis shows that the risk can be

reducedtoanacceptablelevelifmitigationmeasures

areimplemented.

3 SIMULATOREXERCISES

Now, the next step would be to develop simulator

exercisesthatcanbeusedasarisk‐reducingmeasure

prior to operations in polar areas. These exercises

wouldhave

tobeassessedbyexpertsinthefieldwho

has experience with operations under such

conditions, in order to make the simulated

environment as close to real life as possible. It may

then be necessary to adjust the preliminary hazard

analysis,assomeofthesimulatedsituationsmaynot

have

theintendedeffectontherisk.Thepreliminary

hazardanalysisshould,however,beausefultoolfor

developmentoftheinitialsimulatorexercises.

Regardingthetechnicalpartofthesimulation,the

main finding when trying out the different features

regardingsimulationofpolaroperatingconditionsis

that the K‐sim platform

 experiences some problems

whenitcomestosimulationofradar‐imageinice.It

would therefore be interesting to investigate if it is

possibletoimplementreal‐liferadarimagesasapart

ofthesimulatorexercises.Thisissomethingthathas

to be considered when developing the simulator

exercises.

Otherwise, the K‐sim platform is found to be

realistic when it comes to ice, especially the visual

part. This is further strengthened by the feedback

fromtheNorwegianpilots,whohaveexperiencefrom

operations in polar waters. The level of realism is,

however,somethingthathavetobeassessedthrough



the initial simulator exercises before it is possible to

determinehowclosetorealitythesimulatorexercises

canbe.Thelevelofrisk‐reductionthroughsimulator

exercisesisstronglydependentontherealisminthe

exercises.

4 CONCLUSIONANDFURTHERWORK

Simulator training can be used as a mitigating

measure

inreducingtheriskwhenoperatinginpolar

conditions, especially to reduce the risk related to

human errors. Simulator exercises could also

contribute in reducing the risk related to technical

errors,butthenasasupplementtoimplementationof

conventional risk reducing measures, such as

duplicationofequipmentetc.

Themain

suggestionsforfurtherworkare:

 Development ofgeneral simulator exercises to be

used as risk reducing measures for operations in

polarareas.

 Quality assurance of the exercises through

feedbackfromexpertsinthefieldwithexperience

fromconditionsbeingsimulated.

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