Nowadays more emphasis is put on safety and prevention of accidents. This was the reason why there are rising questions about the influence of multicultural crews on the occurrence of accidents. Based on a literature overview, the results found in the reports of the Dutch Shipping Council were checked regarding cultural differences.

　

 From our analysis of the reports of the Dutch Shipping Counsel we can see that in 19 of the 52 reports there could be some influence on the accidents by multicultural differences. Because in the reports no specific attention was paid to the influence of multicultural differences, the influence cannot directly be made explicit. But from the description of the events the presence of such influences can be distilled.

　

 From the data of the Content analysis we computed the correlations between the variable intercultural differences and the BRM clues. From these computations only the correlation between "intercultural differences" and "distraction"; and the correlation between "intercultural differences" and "breakdown in communication" are significant. No evidence was find regarding intercultural differences and the other BRM clues. Maybe this was due to the fact that nothing about cultural differences was mentioned explicitly in the reports. To investigate the relation between the BRM clues and cultural differences further research should be done.

　

6.1 Conclusions

　

 Based on the Content analysis, the Assessment analysis and literature the following conclusions can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of a BRM Course on the accident/incident rate, and answer the questions stated in Section 1.2.

　

With respect to the questions:

　

　

the following conclusions are drawn:

　

　

Regarding the third and fourth question:

　

　

 It is shown that Officers of the Watch with a BRM certificate performed better on almost all the clues, except the clues "ambiguity" and "violations of rules" than Officers of the Watch without a BRM certificate. They also had a higher "overall score" and a higher score on " quality of bridge management".

　

 Whether this could be translated into a reduced risk of having a collision or grounding can be answered on the fact that BRM related errors have a high prevalence in the cases of the accident reports. The participants who had a BRM certificate perform better on the BRM clues, than the participants without the BRM certificate, so it can be reasoned that BRM training has a positive effect on performance. Specific BRM clues with a bad performance are the clues communication and improper conning/lookout.

　

 The last two questions to be answered are:

　

　

 With respect to question five an extensive literature study was performed, in which also the effectiveness of BRM Course was stated. About question six, whether a multicultural crew can be a risk inducing

　

　

factor, only assumptions can be made that there was a relation between the occurrence of intercultural differences and breakdown in communication and distraction, which are factors influencing the rate of accidents.

　

 An overview of the clues with a high prevalence is given in Table 7.

　

6.2 Recommendations

　

 Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made. The recommendations are grouped into sectors of the maritime industry, which should address these recommendations.

　

　

 BRM Course evidently has a positive effect on the reduction of accidents. Therefore it is recommended to make a BRM Course mandatory for Watchkeeping Officers by IMO.

　

 It is also recommended to put more emphasis, by the development and evaluation of crew policy, on the cultural background of seafarers of other nationalities.

　

 There is a growing understanding that multicultural crews play a role in the occurrence of accidents. To find significant proof of the fact that multiculturalism plays a role, this aspect should be registered in all the accidents that happen and all the near misses should be properly registered including this aspect.

　

 Recommended to conduct more research about the influence of intercultural differences on the clues "distraction" and "breakdown in communication".

　

 Further recommendations would be on the improvement of the registration from all the people who attended a BRM Course. More in-depth conclusions can be drawn when complete registration of members who participated BRM will be made available.

　

 Recommended that more longitudinal research should be done on the lasting effect of BRM Courses. It is recommended to have a larger sample group and a reduced number of variables in further research; the results will be more valid.

　

　

 Based on these conclusions more emphasis should be laid on the process of communication and to proper conning/lookout. In view of the increasing number of multicultural crews there should also be attention for intercultural communication. In all BRM Courses there should be a part about working together in mixed nationality crews.

　

 Further research should be done on the relationship between the BRM clues and the present theoretical description with respect to multicultural groups, e.g. the dimensions of Hofstede [5].

　

 Recommended to develop a cultural awareness training programme to cope with cultural differences on board.

　

 To improve "distraction" and "insecure/uncertain feeling" it is recommended to pay attention to pro-active thinking. Knowing what to do reduces the feeling of insecurity.

　

 A further recommendation would be the improvement of the registration from al the people who attend a BRM Course . More in-depth conclusions can be drawn when complete registration of members who participated BRM made available.

　

 Recommended is that more longitudinal research should be done on the effectiveness of BRM Courses. It is recommended to have a larger sample group and a reduced number of variables in further research; the results will be more valid. Recommended to contain more research about the influence of intercultural differences on the clues "distraction" and "breakdown in communication".

　

　

 It is recommended for the Dutch Shipping Council to keep track of human factors in their reports and to register human factors, because this will give reason for making improvements. It enhances further operational research and understanding.

　

　

 Two of the main problems of multicultural crews are communication and language. To address this issue, it is recommended that ship owners/managers should improve the linguistic capabilities of their seafarers in English.

　

[1] Barber, P. "Training using a multi-purpose Bridge and VTS simulator", Port Technology International.

[2] Flin, R. H., "Crew resource management for teams in the offshore oil industry", Team Performance Management, Vol. 3 No. 2, 121-129. (1997).

[3] Groeneweg, J. & Roggeveen V., "Tripod: Controlling the human error component in accidents. Safety and Reliability", Lydersen, Hansen & Sandtorv (eds). Balkema, Rotterdam. 1998

[4] Gudykust, W. B.. "Bridging differences Effective intergroup communication", 1994. In Interculturele communicatieve competentie. Psychologie en Maatschappij, jrg. 24, no. 1, pp. 5-14.

[5] Hofstede "Allemaal andersdenkenden: Omgaan met cultuurverschillen" Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Contact, 1993.

[6] IALA Recommendation V-103, "on Standards for Training and Certification of VTS Personnel", 1998.

[7] IATA Human Factors Working Group, "The evolution of Crew Resource Management: From managerial theory to safety tool", www.iata.org/oi/committees/hfwg. 2001.

[8] IMO, "Final Act of the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping fort Seafarers", 1978 (amended 1995), STCW 95.

[9] NAFTA Tri-National Human Factors Initiative, "Introduction to Human Factors in Aviation". www.cami.jccbi.gov/AAM-600/610/600Air-HFB.html, 2001.

[10] Pawlowski, J. S. "Simulation and Training for Marine Operations". Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[11] Pizzi L.; Goldfarb, N. I. & Nash, D. B. "Crew resource management and its applications in medicine" Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine and Office of Health Policy & Clinical Outcomes.

[12]Reason J.T., "Human error". Cambridge University Press, 1990.

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[16] Thompson, J. L., "The future STCW Convention and Maritime Training", 1993 Prepared for delivery at Marsim '93.

[17] Vinken H. & Vermaas. J., "Waardenorientaties en transportveiligheid: Een inventarisatie van de impact van Hofstedes cultuurdimensies", 2001. Tilburg: IRIC/IVA Tilburg.

[18] Washington State Department of Ecology, "Bridge Resource Management Guide", 1999. Focus No, 99-1302.

[19] Maritime Simulation Rotterdam, "Assessment of the Effectiveness of Bridge Resource. Management Training". Final Report, 27 November 2002, 75 pp.

　

 Dr. J. H. Wulder is, as Research Manager of the MSR simulation facility, responsible for all ongoing research at MSR. In this function he was involved in several port optimization studies, accident analysis, hydrodynamic model Improvements, tug performance studies, risk analysis, VTS studies and projects in the field of human factors.

　

 During the last 16 years he was involved in ship simulation. In 1987 he graduated as Naval Architect with the specialisation in ship navigation. After then he was PhD-fellow at the Delft University of Technology. The subject concerned the integration of manoeuvring models and control theory. The results were applied in the design for an integrated navigation system. A new technique was designed to determine the ship manoeuvring model based on sea trials.