Human Error Analysis in Ship Accident Incidents and Mitigation Strategies

Indonesia’s geographical conditions, with thousands of islands, extreme weather variations, and dense maritime traffic in strategic routes such as the Malacca Strait and Sunda Strait, exacerbate operational challenges that increase the potential for human error. This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of human error in ship accidents using a well-established theoretical framework and empirical data from accident investigations. This study employed a mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design to gain a comprehensive understanding of human error in ship accidents. The results show that human error contributed to 89.3% of ship accidents, with rule-based errors (35.3%) as the dominant category, followed by skill-based errors (32.8%) and knowledge-based errors (19.7%). Significantly, violations, despite their relatively low frequency (12.2%), resulted in the highest severity (74.1%), indicating that procedural violations have very serious consequences for the safety of ship operations. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive human error mitigation strategy integration model, including technical systems that focus on engineering controls and supporting technology, human & team competencies that develop technical and non-technical skills through training and assessment, and organizational systems that create structures, cultures, and policies that support safe operations. It is concluded that shipping safety is not merely a technical problem but a socio-technical challenge that requires integrated solutions addressing human, organizational, and technological dimensions holistically.