Eight delegates from the PTC Group joined the SAFEMODE Symposium Dissemination Event last October 19, 2022, at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Conference Hall in Port Area, Manila. SAFEMODE is a 3-year research and innovation action project that brings together a strong consortium consisting of industry players, and the academe, within the aviation and maritime sector, with the aim of consolidating best practices for Human Factors (HF) input to transport safety. SAFEMODE also looks into continuous improvement of assessments and managing human risk factors effectively in the workplace.

With the development of the Human Risk-Informed Design (HURID) framework, industry designers and operators will be able to document and assess quantitively the human factor to failure and success in their respective areas of discipline. The framework will help decode human factors on different levels:

· Incident/Accident – What happened and who did what? But, not why.

· Human Performance – Was there a human element involved? What factors affect human performance?

· Work as Done – What should have been done?

· Culture – How might we improve professional, organizational, and national culture to promote safety and human performance?

FastCat, operated by Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC), was the lead organizer of the symposium and was represented by their Chairman, Ms. Mary Ann Pastraña. In her opening message, she recognized the critical role of research in the transportation sector. “In this era of information overload, fake news, and in this Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world, we turn to science and data to guide and to lead us in new ways of thinking so we can face the world with a better understanding of uncertainties, to manage risks and become more resilient," she said.

The panel was composed of Dr. Simone Pozzi, Coordinator of the SAFEMODE project; Prof. Osman Turan and Prof. Rafet Kurt from the University of Strathclyde; and Dr. Maria Carrera Arce of the World Maritime University.

During the open forum, Capt. Ronald Enrile, PTC Senior Vice President for the Ship Management Group, emphasized the needed support for the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP). “NMP’s main function is to do maritime research. Incident investigations should be a part of what they are doing. They should maintain a database of all investigations being done so stakeholders can gather the information that can be used in drafting policies that can benefit the maritime industry,” he said.

Members of the delegation found the symposium beneficial not only for those who are working at sea but also ashore. “Each organization’s objectives have various associated risks. With an improved assessment and better management of human risk factors, possible issues become more manageable,” PTC Quality Assurance Manager Marilyn Lozano stated.

“I now have a better understanding of the Just Culture. Oftentimes, we draw our attention to ownership and accountability when a problem arises. Instead of finding out who is to blame in a particular incident, we should focus on the system design and behavioral choices that occurred to be able to create an ideal solution to system failures and various adverse events,” Mr. Dean Anthony O. Canson Jr, PTC’s Crewing Manager added.

Ms. Antonia Gatan, PTC’s Business Development Manager, highlighted the importance of synergies among various sectors to reach a common goal. “The strong collaboration among industry leaders, the academe, and policymakers will make a significant impact in our respective industries as we gather, analyze, interpret and disseminate data in promoting transport safety,” she said.

Other members of the PTC delegation were Capt. Florencio Jampil and C/E Gerardo Ramirez of PTC Ship Management, Ms. Irene Espiritu of Quality Assurance, and Engr. Benjamin Reyes of Building Administration.

Representatives from Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC), Department of Transportation (DOTR), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine National Police – Maritime Group (PNP-MG), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were also present in the symposium on-site and online.