DeepDraft human element analysis looks at the people behind maritime safety and operational performance. This section covers bridge culture, fatigue, training, cadet development, onboard communication, decision pressure, reporting behaviour, and the human factors that shape what actually happens at sea.
-
The Silence That Follows a Cadet’s Death at Sea
In the past five years, the shipping industry has seen a disturbing rise in deaths and disappearances among young seafarers, many recorded as suicides or “unexplained” at-sea cases. Insurers now…
-
The MSC Michigan Chief Engineer Case: Beyond Blame, Toward Systemic Accountability
The Ghost of Dali: A Wake-Up Call The maritime fraternity has never fully exorcised the ghost of MV Dali. In March 2024, the containership, while transiting the Patapsco River near…
-
The Hidden Risk at Sea: Why Vitamin D Deficiency Costs Shipping Millions
When people think of seafarers, the image that often comes to mind is of men and women under the open sky, surrounded by endless blue seas and blazing sunlight. It…
-
E-Cigarettes at Sea: The Hidden Threat Ships Can’t Afford to Ignore
Five hundred miles from shore, alarms sound. A crew scrambles through narrow passageways as smoke rises from a device no bigger than a pen. At sea, where help is days…
-
Command vs “Conn”: Why the Master’s Authority Is Never Shared
In pilotage waters, a single word can blur the line between conduct, advice, and command and that blur can sink both safety and legal clarity. After publishing my recent article…
-
LinkedIn: A Seafarer’s Dive into the Buzzword Jungle
I recently decided to dive into LinkedIn. About 10 years ago, I tried Facebook but I left it behind. To me, it felt like a place where socially lonely people…