Empowering Seafarers: Human-Centred Design at the IMO SDC-11

Collaboration between The Nautical Institute, a proud partner of the EU co-funded OCEAN Project and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is set to take centre stage at the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC-11) on Monday 13th January.

This partnership will highlight how Human-Centred Design (HCD) can transform maritime safety and operational excellence. Insights from the OCEAN Project survey reveal critical gaps and opportunities:

• Seafarer-Centric Systems: Designing systems based on the variability, role, and purpose of seafarers can enhance safety, efficiency, and satisfaction.
• Bridging Training Gaps: While 56% of surveyed seafarers are aware of HCD, only 15% have formal training. Incorporating HCD principles into Maritime Education and Training (MET) is essential.
• Improving Communication: Better collaboration among stakeholders and enabling seafarers to report design issues are key to fostering a robust safety culture.

Presenting these findings will be: Capt Aly Elsayed AFNI from The Nautical Institute, Professor Margareta Lützhöft FNI from Western Norway University, and Dr Jonathan Earthy from Lloyd’s Register. Together, they’ll demonstrate how HCD empowers seafarers to shape maritime innovation.

Don’t miss the OCEAN Project training videos for actionable tips to support safer navigation and situational awareness.

By putting seafarers at the heart of design, we can create a safer, more efficient maritime future.