Onboard Navigation Audits / Assessments

Navigational incidents remain one of the most dangerous and costly risks in shipping. Allianz’s Safety and Shipping Review 2025 recorded 3,310 shipping incidents worldwide in 2024, an increase of around 10% on the previous year. At The Swedish Club, navigational errors account for almost a third of all hull and machinery claims, and more than half of those happen with a pilot on board. Across Europe, EMSA found that the human element was involved in almost 79% of the marine casualties and incidents investigated between 2015 and 2024.

Modern bridge equipment has not removed the risk. Most navigational incidents come down to how the bridge team plans, communicates and keeps watch, and that is exactly what our navigation assessments examine.

More than an audit of paperwork

Many companies include navigation audits in routine ISM audits carried out by a superintendent while the ship is alongside. That only checks the system and its paperwork; it tells you nothing about how the bridge team actually performs. Our assessments take place at sea, with the team at work, and cover every aspect of the navigation of the vessel.

How our assessment works

Our Master Mariner assessor joins the vessel for a coastal passage, ideally of four to five days and including pilotage transits. The assessment is carried out in two parts: the departure from the joining port, and the arrival at the next port or ports. Acting as a silent observer, the assessor follows the bridge team from departure berth to full away on passage and through to port arrival, including the team’s interaction with the pilot, VTS and port authorities, and with each other.

What we assess

• Knowledge and understanding of company policies and procedures
• Passage planning: preparation, planning and execution
• Use of electronic chart systems and ECDIS
• Coastal and deep sea navigation, where applicable
• Navigation in restricted waters and port approaches
• Bridge team management: situational awareness and teamwork
• Human Element: communication, challenge and response, workload and fatigue
• Status of bridge equipment
• Mooring, unmooring and anchoring, if carried out

The Human Element at the heart of every assessment

Fundamentals such as keeping a proper lookout, determining risk of collision, plotting the vessel’s position, complying with the collision regulations and managing the bridge team are now frequently found to be weak on the modern bridge. In most cases the officers have the knowledge. What breaks down is communication, situational awareness and the confidence to speak up.

As a recognised leader in Human Element training, EASK Marine builds this into every assessment. Our assessors look closely at how the team works together: whether information is shared and confirmed, whether junior officers feel able to challenge the Master or the pilot, and how the team manages workload and fatigue at critical moments. Where it adds value, we use the Process Communication Model (PCM) to help officers understand each other’s communication styles and how they react under stress.

Training on board, not just a report

Our assessor debriefs the observations and recommendations with the whole bridge team and with individual officers. Training needs are identified and agreed with the Master, and wherever possible corrective and refresher training is given on board straight away, including Human Element and Bridge Resource Management training. The team doesn’t wait for a report to start improving. The company then receives a full written report with our findings and recommendations.

A bespoke solution for every fleet

Whether you need an assessment after an incident, a fleet-wide programme to meet TMSA best practice, preparation for SIRE 2.0, or simply want to raise your bridge teams’ standards, EASK Marine Consultancy will build a solution around your needs.