Crew members are prone to many distractions onboard; from a complex navigation bridge to high workloads while navigating their vessel through busy shipping lanes. Analysis of maritime accident reports shows that situational awareness is one of the most important safety factors, highlighting never to relax our vigilance when onboard.
Analysis of accidents at sea that involve loss of life have highlighted the following distractions:
#1 Using personal mobile devices whilst on duty
Talking on cell phones can have serious consequences in safety-critical situations, and sending or reading text messages is potentially even more distracting
#2 Multi-tasking while on watch