Error Detection in the Navigational Watch Based on the Behavior Analysis of Navigators

Poor lookouts, i.e. one of errors in situation awareness, are pointed out as the major cause of collisions of ships, through investigations of collision accidents. In order to evaluate safety measures for preventing collisions caused by poor lookouts, it is necessary to understand background factors, so called “contexts”, of errors in situation awareness regardless of occurrence of collisions. The purpose of this study is to point out the possible significant contexts, using a navigator’s situation awareness model. As a result, the authors point out that one of the possible significant contexts is a problem on judgment of priority levels of other ships with regard to attention.