Unsafe practices, near misses, and many other problem items can be identified by the people involved with the transportation system. By cataloging and analyzing near miss and related situational information, trends and root problems can be identified. This leads to corrections in the transportation system helping prevent accidents before they occur. The benefits of avoiding even a single major accident are very large. The purpose of this effort is to develop and implement a non-attribution national maritime safety reporting system that will capture near miss, safety, and accident precursor information and encourage and permit changes to be made in the transportation system that will help prevent accidents from occurring.
Stakeholders There are many stakeholders in marine transportation safety.
The industry is highly regulated with prescriptive requirements to ensure well designed and constructed ships. Many operational procedures and training or certification requirements have been researched and mandated to ensure safe operations. Mariners, pilots, those involved with maritime traffic control or advisement systems, as well as operating companies, classification societies, State agencies, and many others have interests in developing a practical system that contributes to safe operations and reduces the chance for an accident. The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard agree to work together to facilitate the development and implementation of a practical non-attribution national maritime safety reporting system that best serves the interests of the U.S. public and the maritime stakeholders by identifying safety problems and facilitating appropriate prevention action by all involved. Benefits Reduction in the annual number of marine casualties, i.e., save more lives, reduce the extent and number of injuries, save more property, and reduce damage to the environment.