Work boats, human factors and safety

摘要

Safety afloat is of vital importance. This truism is recognised world-wide and as a result there are many requirements placed on designers and operators, to ensure that safety is not forgotten. Large ocean-going vessels, ferries and pleasure boats necessarily place safety high on the design and operational agendas, but there is one broad class of vessels, largely unsung in the maritime world, where consideration of crew safety has assumed an increased importance. The work boats of the world are seen in a wide variety of roles, ranging from sur- veying the seabed to transporting crews off shore, from transferring pilots to rescuing casualties. Recent developments in design have increasingly allowed such craft to operate at greater speeds, often in relatively severe weather conditions.