The maritime industry still lacks a standardisation of the exact contents and methods how crews
should be trained especially in Bridge Resource Management (BRM) and human factors. Obviously
the international committees are building on the shipping companies' own responsibility and
safety culture. The practice-oriented book Improving Bridge Resource Management contributes to
closing this gap: It deals with the causes of accidents in the safety industry of shipping
presents sources of error and potential risks and shows what bridge resource management
training should include in order to minimise them preventively. Crucial aspects of human
factors for bridge and engine personnel are discussed in a simple and clear manner. It is shown
how communication leaks are closed and decisions are made faster and more confidently how
teams can be brought together emotionally friction losses reduced and error potentials
minimised. The benefits and the necessity of the proactive security management tool BRM will
also become clear - for individuals teams organisations and the entire industry. The authors
are experts from human factors research BRM trainers and practitioners from the maritime
industry. In presenting organisational systemic and psychological aspects they deliberately
concentrate on simple and easily understandable models and tools and focus on their catchiness
and practical handling. Their contributions aim not only to describe and illustrate the most
important factors of safe action in seafaring to discuss human action in this complex system
and to point out potential errors but also to offer simple and concrete solutions to present
practical tools for action and to make recommendations suitable for everyday use. The result is
a book that is equally suitable for self-study and as a basis for BRM training. It is written
with the nautical professional everyday life in mind and with the aim of - raising awareness of
the necessity and benefits of BRMs in general as well as of the sector-specific risks of
shipping and the requirements of BRM - offering action strategies and tools to avoid negative
effects or to simplify and speed up procedures and decision-making processes - to provide
concrete recommendations for managers teams individuals and trainers to promote this tool and
integrate it into everyday life on board.
