Take 10: Issue 7

01 Oct 2014 The Navigator

This issue of The Navigator has looked at Bridge Resource Management (BRM). Here are ten points to take away from this issue to bear in mind next time you’re on duty on the bridge

1 Only human

Individuals make mistakes. Through teamwork and effective use of resources, these mistakes can become lessons learned, rather than catastrophes


2 Strength or weakness?

BRM is an essential defence mechanism against the ‘single person error’. It can be a vessel’s greatest strength – or its weakest point


3 Working both ways

The Master is an integral part of the bridge team, but also has a larger role to play to facilitate effective BRM and challenge and response


4 No ‘I’ in ‘TEAM

Both in training and in operation, it is essential to involve all team members. ‘Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, but involve me and I will understand’


5 Happy talk

Team discussions are essential for learning and refining BRM. Accident and near-miss reports are excellent material for starting a discussion 


6 Pilot scheme

Good passage plans are essential for ensuring the bridge team, including the pilot, are focused, share a common understanding and can jointly monitor the voyage


7 Good decisions

Using information technology effectively, and ensuring good teamwork with the equipment, can aid good decisions and avoid mistakes


8 Screen time

The navigator must be able to filter relevant information, use good old-fashioned common sense, and keep in mind the most important screen onboard – the window!


9 Audits matter

Effective and routine navigation audits during passage are essential to ensure that what is learnt ashore is practised onboard


10 Never done

BRM is never ‘over’. It must be part of a continuous improvement process underpinned by mentoring, open discussion and debriefing at the end of the voyage