Maintaining situational awareness
requires an understanding of the relative
significance of all boating related factors
and their future impact on the cruise.
When a boater understands what is going
on and has an overview of the total operation,
he or she is not fixated on one perceived
significant factor. Not only is it
important for a boater to know the boat’s
geographical location, it is also important
he or she understand what is happening.
To maintain situational awareness, all of
the skills involved in BDM are used.
Obstacles to Maintaining
Situational Awareness
Fatigue, stress, and work overload can
cause a boater to fixate on a single perceived
important item and reduce an overall
situational awareness of the cruise. A
contributing factor in many accidents is a
distraction that diverts the boater’s attention
from the vessel’s environment. Many
helmsman distractions begin as a minor
problem, such as a fouled line or engine
alarm, but result in accidents as the boater
diverts attention to the perceived problem
and neglects to properly control the boat.
Workload Management
Effective workload management ensures
essential operations are accomplished by
planning, prioritizing, and sequencing
tasks to avoid work overload. As experience
is gained, a boater learns to recognize
future workload requirements and
can prepare for high workload periods
during times of low workload. Reviewing
the appropriate chart and setting radio
channels well in advance of when they are
needed helps reduce workload as the vessel
nears the lock or lift-bridge.
Recognizing a work overload situation
is also an important component of
managing workload. The first effect of high
workload is that the PIC may be working
harder but accomplishing less. As workload
increases, attention cannot be devoted
to several tasks at one time, and the boater
may begin to focus on one item. When
a PIC becomes task saturated, there is no
awareness of input from various sources,
so decisions may be made on incomplete
information and the possibility of error
increases.
When a work overload situation
exists, a PIC needs to stop, think, slow
down, and prioritize. It is important to
understand how to decrease workload.
For example, when proceeding to anchor
the tasks of preparing the rode, plotting
anchorage bearings, and developing ranges
for use when determining if the anchor is
set should be shared. This ability depends
upon experience, discipline, and training.
Managing Risks
The ability to manage risk begins with
preparation. Here are some things a PIC
can do to manage overall risk:
Assess the cruise’ risk based upon
experience. Use some form of risk assessment.
For example, if the weather is marginal
and the PIC has little experience in
restricted visibility boating, it is probably a
good idea to cancel the cruise.
Assign and fit EVERYONE with a
properly sized life jacket, try it on and
adjust all fasteners, label it and when below
decks place it where it is easily located.
Brief EVERYONE onboard on:
• Location and use of fire extinguishers
• Location and use of dewatering equipment
• Procedures for man overboard
• Procedures for mooring, unmooring,
and anchoring
• Use of galley and sanitary facilities.
• Federal regulations on discharge of hazardous
waste and garbage.
• Dealing with grounding and sinking.
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