Evaluation of maritime safety policy instruments

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the current maritime safety policy system as a whole. It offers an overview of different kinds of policy instruments that are used to enhance maritime safety and the criteria for effective policy instruments. It provides a criticism and goes through the weak points of the current maritime safety policy system, and finally, the system is analyzed in the light of the criteria for effective policy. The paper is based on literary sources, mainly on articles published in academic journals. The conclusion of the article is that the development of individual policies will not greatly improve the current level of maritime safety, and more fundamental changes are needed in the governance of maritime safety. IntroductionAccidents at sea and increasing volumes of maritime traffic, especially the transportation of dangerous cargoes, have given rise to a growing awareness of the safety of maritime traffic. International maritime safety regulation has a long history. Regulation is continuously revised and developed further in numerous maritime safety related issues by several actors. Instead of looking at individual policies, it is sometimes important to think about the system as a whole and its foundations. Do the current maritime safety policies achieve the goals they are meant to achieve, are they effective, and is there a need for change?This paper presents the criteria for effective policy instruments, and it evaluates the current maritime safety policy system as a whole in the light of those criteria. The paper includes a short description and a critique of the maritime safety policy system. The paper is mainly a literature review on the effectiveness of maritime safety policy. The structure of the paper is as follows. Firstly, the criteria for effective policy instruments and a tool for evaluation of maritime policy instruments (Formal Safety Assessment FSA) are presented. Secondly, regulatory bodies of maritime safety and preventive maritime safety policy instruments are reviewed. Next, the article discusses a critique and weak points of the system. Finally, the maritime safety policy system is evaluated against the criteria for effective policy in the light of the critique of a system, and the findings of the study are discussed in the end.

Evaluating the impact of PSC inspectors’ professional profile: a case study of the Spanish Maritime Administration

“…Nevertheless, maritime regulatory regime fails to effectively address human factors and safety management challenges, as stated by Batalden and Sydnes (2013) or Kuronen and Tapaninen (2010), these being pretty much the same challenges as identified a century ago (Schröder-Hinrichs et al 2012).…”

A proactive approach for maritime safety policy making for the Gulf of Finland: Seeking best practices

“…Since the designation in 2005, directly PSSA-associated protective measures have not been implemented in the GoF, but in the Southern Baltic Sea the status has brought traffic separation schemes, a deep-water route, and areas to be avoided [53]. The need for the PSSA system has been seen as an additional sign of the failure of international regulation in addressing regional/local shipping conditions [19,13].…”

“…There is a need for a framework in the GoF that enables a systematic process of handling regional risks at the regional level [28,13,29]. In this paper the possibility of developing such a formal approach is discussed, by seeking "best practices" from the maritime field and beyond it.…”

“…Still, the safety regime is criticized inter alia for being ineffective, diffuse and partial, too slow in its reactions, and incapable of addressing local shipping conditions and satisfying the needs of the most vulnerable sea areas [12][13][14][15]. The limitations are manifested in efforts by individual states or regions to implement additional safety measures in their adjacent waters [16][17][18]11].…”

“…These international rules are widely regarded as the only possible way of managing safety at sea, because they ensure the principle of the freedom of navigation, guarantee uniform safety standards for all waters, and provide a coherent operational environment for shipping companies and seamen [11][12][13]. Still, the safety regime is criticized inter alia for being ineffective, diffuse and partial, too slow in its reactions, and incapable of addressing local shipping conditions and satisfying the needs of the most vulnerable sea areas [12][13][14][15].…”