Development and executions of BRM retraining for
Norwegian pilots and VTS operators
Captain Guillermo G Garay
[email protected]
EMPA 51th GM – Bergen, Norway
Background
• Incidents reveal lack of interaction between Pilots,
bridge teams and VTS operators
• Based on the Educational Plan, a BRM training
material was worked out
• DNV assisted the NCA in developing a BRM
educational plan for Pilots and VTS
Goals of the program
• Optimize effectiveness of the maritime transport ,
• ensure the safe transit of ships in Norwegian waters,
• and prevent or limit the environmental damage caused
by acute pollution in Norwegian waters
Those goals demanded for a close a mutually dependent
cooperation between Pilots, Bridge teams and VTS
operators
Overall learning objectives
• Standardize operational behaviour from all Pilots
and VTS operators
• Active contribution in establishing, and taking
part, in the bridge team to strengthen it
• Clear communication of goals, intentions and
other alternatives during all parts of the voyage
• Maximum interaction at the operational level,
between the Pilot - Bridge teams, and VTS, in
order to secure the voyage
The course
• 4-day training, combining lectures, group work,
games, simulation and reflection sessions
• During a 5-year period 285 Pilots and 70 VTS
operators attended this tailor-made training
• Significant span in age among participants
• Aim at getting a good understanding of roles and
responsibilities in a system composed of Bridge
Teams, Pilots and VTS operators
The course
The tailor-made training includes:
• Applicability of SOPs
• Use of best practices
• Pilotage
• Traffic organization
• Navigational Assistance
• Actions during incidents and accidents
• Unusual assignments
Evaluation
Decision Making Process
Element
Knowledge
Behaviour
Option
generation
Understand the pitfalls /
States alternative course of action.
biases in Decision Making
Asking Team members for (other)
processes.
options.
“It is a bladder effect”
Cosco Busan – Oakland, California
Incident time & Action time
Incident
Alarms /
Reports
Time to recognise
situation
Dynamics of the event in progress (eg. Fire)
Consider situation
Make decision
Action
Any casualties
Plant damage
Safety
Procedures
Options
Team knowledge
Risk assessment
Confirm with team
Issue instructions
Muster
Feedback required
Time to
understand
severity
Time to
decide
Time to
act
REVIEW
The Training Team
• One Experience active Pilot
• Two Instructors with robust knowledge in Human
Factors and proven pedagogical tools for teaching
• One Instructor who is an expert in Human Factors,
training techniques and with solid experience in
training Pilots and VTS operators with similar
program outside Europe
Simulation Facilities
2 Fully integrated VTS simulators
2 Full Mission Bridge Simulators (video and replay rec.)
1 Control Room
1 Large debriefing room
High Reliability Organizations
Exceptionally good safety performance in
Safety Critical Domains.
Training based on new HF’s concepts:
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–
–
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Resilience
Defences in layers
Team dependency
Adaptability
Prepared to be unprepared
Response to unexampled events (Cosco)
Threat & Error Management
(more realistic approach)
PREVENT
NEUTRALIZE
MITIGATE
Adverse
CONSEQUENCES
3 – 4 – 40
Reflection – work book
What are your roles and responsibilities when it
comes to cooperation?
How could you contribute to enhance the quality of
cooperation?
What do you see as the main challenges regarding
cooperation related to “me”, “we” and NCA?
Simulation Scenarios
• Participants are informed about the scope of the simulation
(procedures), and the goals of the session.
• The goal is to check what they can do with the new acquired
knowledge, not check individuals
 Scenarios is designed to be as realistic as possible (accidents)
 Pilots and VTS operators operating in new areas
 A video- and replay recordings will be made of the exercise,
 Debriefing session (discovery learning)
Simulation Scenarios
Simulation Scenarios
Participants manning two bridges.
Teams (captain, pilot and helmsman)
Two VTS operators in VTS simulators
Pilots: Enters bridge and establish bridge team
Simulation Scenarios
Vessels moored with tugs made fast
Dense traffic in narrow passages
Malfunctions, loss control, Emergency response
Total blackout with fire on Cruise ship in stormy weather
SAR
Pilots unable to board vessels – Navigational assistance
Traffic organization in restricted areas
Simulation Scenarios
Theory & self experiencing
Communications:
“Greatest single weapon working against
human performance”
Effective communications
Closing the loop
Message markers
Context
Cross checking
Concise, short sentences and simple words (real cases)
Stress impairing the ability to communicate
Pilot exchange - who is in control
Helmsman part of the bridge team (reality)
Theory & self experiencing
The Eureka moment:
The second day we observe a huge change in
behaviour
Became inspired, motivated and common belief:
not me telling you! (rediscovering passion)
Can see the difference between “what they
thought it happened and what it really happened”
Out of the confort zone training
Non-linear systems
Principle of functioning partially known
Systems are in permanent change
Unpredictable outcome
Performance variability
Success and failure ”emerge”
New approach to Risk & Safety
To absorb disturbances, flaws and errors but
ensuring the system never collapses
Adaptation under press due to:
 lack of resources
 Physical conditions
 cultural differences
 stress
 fatigue
 inadequate information
 poor communication abilities (language)
Resilient system
They create a robust system:
Pilot – Bridge teams – VTS operators,
To respond effectively to the unexpected but…
“in a very innovative way with their current
knowledge, experience and training”
Mindful Safety Habits
Resilient system
The magic touch:
On-the-field assessment
Change in attitudes and behaviour
passion
26
“The first law of business is not to make
a profit…...,
it is to avoid making a loss”
Thank you!