The importance of BRM （Bridge Resource Management)

There is a saying, "Everyone makes mistakes." This means that making mistakes is natural. We are all human and we make mistakes.

Human error is everywhere and unavoidable. Sometimes these mistakes can lead to major disasters.

However, if these errors can be detected and eliminated in a timely manner, it is possible to achieve safe and efficient operations without gaps or mistakes.

In the history of maritime navigation, "safety" has always been a concern. Maritime technology has dramatically changed the resources available to seafarers.

Advanced equipment and other automation have made it possible to provide new sources of information and support.

Seafarers need to acquire new skills to effectively utilize these new technologies.

Have you ever heard of the term "BRM" (Bridge Resource Management)?

BRM is...

• Introduced in the early 1990s as a safety and error management tool in the maritime industry, it has now become an essential element in crew training.
• Aims to achieve safe operations by utilizing all available resources, including equipment, information, and human resources.
• Plays an important role in environments where human error can have catastrophic impacts.
• Proven to be an important tool for improving safety and preventing accidents in the maritime industry.
• Supports safer and more efficient operations by integrating technical skills and human skills.

BRM can be described as the effective management and utilization of all human and technical resources available to the bridge team to ensure the safe completion of the vessel's voyage.

The BRM system applies when there are "two or more personnel" on the bridge, including (1) the captain or the officer on watch (hereinafter referred to as the "commander") and (2) the person assisting them (hereinafter referred to as the "watchkeeper"). However, BRM also applies to vessels with only one person on the bridge when the captain is on the bridge or when the watchkeeper is reinforced, or when a pilot is on board. Additionally, the BRM concept can be applied not only within the bridge but also in the relationship between the captain (bridge) and the personnel stationed at the bow or stern during port entry and departure or docking and undocking.

Key Elements of BRM

BRM includes several key elements essential to achieving the ultimate goal. Some of them are listed below.

１．Communication

To succeed in BRM, crew members need to communicate effectively with each other. Good communication among crew members is the key to successful BRM.

However, achieving effective communication involves a complex process of transmitting information at the right time and ensuring that the recipient understands and recognizes it.

Often, the necessary information was always present but not provided to the right person at the right time. Messages may not be received or may be misunderstood. Another common cause of major incidents was inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous, or garbled messages.

Crew members must confirm and repeat instructions to ensure they are understood. Continuous interaction between people and equipment leads to safe and efficient navigation of the vessel. All officers and crew members have a duty to cross-check and question each other. Only then can effective communication be achieved. It is also important to maintain a common language on board to facilitate easier and faster communication.

２．Teamwork

BRM emphasizes team building and teamwork. Teamwork helps crew members tackle the challenges they face daily together.

A team approach ensures that all crew members are actively involved in problem-solving and avoids situations where they are merely bystanders. Remember Henry Ford's famous saying, "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success."

Team discussions are essential for mastering and improving BRM. A good team can anticipate dangerous situations and recognize the occurrence of error chains. On the bridge, the officer on watch and the lookout must cooperate as a team to ensure safe navigation.

Safe and effective navigation involves many considerations and should not be done alone. It is important for the bridge team to share a common understanding of the planned route. If there are any doubts, the lookout should speak up. By working as a team, everyone can maximize their abilities and generate better ideas.

３．Decision Making

Decision making is a crucial skill in BRM. While it is widely recognized that the captain has the final decision-making authority on board, it is also important to understand that decision-makers need to gather valuable opinions from officers and crew members.

It is extremely important to collect relevant and appropriate information before making a decision. Making incorrect decisions can lead to many undesirable situations on board. Therefore, it is important to hold regular meetings, interact with officers and crew members, gather opinions to help make the final choice from available options, and make more careful and thoughtful decisions.

Due to busy schedules and frequent port calls, it is often impossible to gather all the information or evaluate alternative solutions in a short time. In such cases, decisions are mainly based on past experiences. Therefore, the most experienced captain on board is considered the sole decision-maker. Reviewing the results of decisions made is an integral part of decision making.

４．Situational Awareness

All seafarers must conduct thorough consideration and planning in advance. Both officers and crew members must always pay attention to external and internal factors that may affect the safety of the vessel. Seafarers must always act proactively using their senses and be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. It is important to always relate what is happening now, what has happened in the past, and what may happen in the future.

Overlooking important details or being indifferent to the surrounding situation can both reduce situational awareness. To avoid accidents, constant attention is required. Paying attention to the ongoing situation can shorten the response time to safely deal with unexpected events.

It is common to get distracted by trivial issues and lose sight of the big picture. The collapse of situational awareness can lead to incidents and accidents. Officers tend to sit in front of the radar or stand in the same place rather than walking around the bridge wing from end to end.

They do not accurately grasp what is happening outside the bridge windows in congested navigation areas. Predicting and responding appropriately to changing situations of the vessel can significantly reduce near misses. Situational awareness is always important when navigating in restricted areas with obvious risks due to bad weather. With situational awareness, wrong actions cannot be taken, but without situational awareness, good actions cannot be taken. Therefore, it is necessary to always maintain situational awareness in all actions.

５．Fatigue

Fatigue is a major issue for seafarers. Although much automation has been introduced to reduce personnel, the level of automation and the complexity that humans have to deal with can lead to significant fatigue.

Many recent accident investigation reports have cited fatigue as one of the main causes. For example, grounding or collisions are caused by the lack of attention of fatigued seafarers. Fatigue significantly reduces analytical ability.

Unfortunately, seafarers do not always have the flexibility to adjust their schedules to get enough rest. They often work long hours, including at night, due to high demands for schedule compliance. Therefore, it is very important to manage crew work schedules, conserve energy as much as possible, and maintain a clear mental state.

If appropriate working hours and rest periods can be ensured on board, things will go much more smoothly. Irregular sleep and insufficient rest lead to distraction and decreased performance. As a result, awareness of the dangers associated with tasks decreases, and accidents often occur when the workload exceeds the crew's capabilities.

The importance of BRM has been recognized as a long-term effort. Good BRM should be a widely practiced culture. BRM is important for all seafarers to effectively perform their duties in any situation. It is an effort to improve work ability when handling complex machinery while also creating a safe environment. Most maritime accidents are caused by human factors. No one can remain unaffected by them. Bad things can happen to anyone. Risks must be recognized, and dangers must be avoided. Safety is not given; it is built day by day.