Navigational risk analysis for maritime operations

Assess navigational risk in planned maritime operations to support prevention-focused safety work.

Navigational risk analysis supports teams involved in planned maritime operations by helping identify hazards before operations are carried out. It becomes relevant when a planned operation requires a structured risk picture to support evaluation and planning. We use ship bridge simulators to recreate realistic navigational conditions and examine the consequences of planned operations before implementation as part of the overall risk assessment process.

A preventive safety perspective

Without a clear view of the hazards associated with an operation, planning can be delayed, and important risks may remain inadequately addressed. This creates uncertainty around priorities, control measures and the overall basis for evaluation. The service is part of our expertise area Maritime simulators.

Close-up of a person operating a ship simulator control console during navigational risk analysis of a planned maritime operation. — Ship simulator used to examine navigational scenarios and support evaluation of operational risks.

Challenges

When planned maritime operations lack a clear risk picture, it becomes harder to evaluate priorities and control measures.

If hazards are missed, risk review starts weak

If hazard identification is incomplete, important risk factors may be missed, leaving the team without a sound basis for evaluating the operation.

If ranking is unclear, priorities are delayed

Each hazard must be assessed through the likelihood and the severity of the worst probable consequence. If this is not done consistently, the team lacks a clear ranking for deciding which risks need attention first and whether further controls should be considered.

If operations are not replicated, effects stay unclear

A planned navigational operation can be difficult to assess before implementation. Without direct observation of the activity or replication of the actual operation, it is harder to examine consequences and compare possible solutions.

Benefits

Get a usable basis for prioritisation, control review and evaluation of remaining risks.

Strengthen the basis for hazard review

A structured hazard review provides the parties involved with a clearer overview of the factors associated with the planned operation. This makes it easier to focus the evaluation on the relevant risks and build a discussion on a defined basis.

Support clearer prioritisation of risk

A ranked view of identified hazards helps the team see which risks require attention first. This supports prioritisation of actions and provides a more practical basis for reviewing where additional controls may be needed.

Clarify remaining risk after controls

A revised ranking after proposed controls gives the team a clearer view of the residual risk that remains. This supports evaluation of whether further action is needed and whether the risk reduction work should be developed further.

Get a review of your planned operations before implementation

Let's discuss your planned maritime operation, the hazards that need to be examined and how navigational risk analysis can support evaluation of risks, control measures and residual risk before implementation.

Service scope

Navigate challenges well in advance

The service includes a structured hazard identification stage for the planned navigational operation. This work is carried out thoroughly and, where possible, is based on direct observation of the activity or job step in question, or on replication of the actual navigational operation using one or more simulators. All parties who will ultimately be involved in the navigational operation should participate in this stage. The output is a defined basis for the later risk assessment work.

The service includes a risk seminar with the relevant parties involved in the operation. Each identified hazard is assessed through the severity of the worst probable consequence and the likelihood of the hazard being realised. The agreed ratings are entered into a risk assessment matrix, which produces a risk ranking. This ranking is used to prioritise actions, review existing controls and identify additional measures needed to reduce risk to ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable).

The service includes a revised risk ranking after new control measures are proposed, so the remaining residual risk can be identified. It also includes monitoring of the effectiveness of the controls applied as part of the overall assessment process. These outputs are used to determine whether further action is needed and to assess how the applied controls perform relative to the identified risks. The service supports assessment and evaluation and is not presented as certification or approval.

The navigational risk analysis is carried out using ship bridge simulators that recreate realistic navigational conditions for the planned operation. This makes it possible to examine operational consequences, compare possible solutions and support evaluation of identified risks before implementation. The simulator-based work forms part of the overall assessment process and supports structured discussion of hazards, controls and remaining operational risk.

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Reach out to Clara Giarrusso for more information.