Technology introduction on ships: The tension between safety and economic rationality

Suresh Bhardwaj; Syamantak Bhattacharya; Lijun Tang; Kerry E. Howell

doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2019.02.025

Technology introduction on ships: The tension between safety and economic rationality

Suresh Bhardwaj, Syamantak Bhattacharya, Lijun Tang, Kerry E. Howell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper examines technology introduction on ships guided by three questions (1) what drives technology introduction; (2) how seafarers are involved in the process; (3) what the consequences are in shipping. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ship managers and senior seafarer officers as well as a questionnaire study with seafarer officers. They reveal a discrepancy between the regulatory intention of technology introduction and the actual implementation process on ships. While the former is spurred by safety concerns, the latter is driven by economic rationality. This discrepancy makes technology a double edged sword in shipping. On the one hand, it plays an important role in improving safety, and on the other, it brings about work intensification and increased surveillance at workplace.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	329-338
Number of pages	10
Journal	Safety Science
Volume	115
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.02.025
Publication status	Published - 26 Feb 2019

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title = "Technology introduction on ships: The tension between safety and economic rationality",

abstract = "This paper examines technology introduction on ships guided by three questions (1) what drives technology introduction; (2) how seafarers are involved in the process; (3) what the consequences are in shipping. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ship managers and senior seafarer officers as well as a questionnaire study with seafarer officers. They reveal a discrepancy between the regulatory intention of technology introduction and the actual implementation process on ships. While the former is spurred by safety concerns, the latter is driven by economic rationality. This discrepancy makes technology a double edged sword in shipping. On the one hand, it plays an important role in improving safety, and on the other, it brings about work intensification and increased surveillance at workplace.",

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AB - This paper examines technology introduction on ships guided by three questions (1) what drives technology introduction; (2) how seafarers are involved in the process; (3) what the consequences are in shipping. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ship managers and senior seafarer officers as well as a questionnaire study with seafarer officers. They reveal a discrepancy between the regulatory intention of technology introduction and the actual implementation process on ships. While the former is spurred by safety concerns, the latter is driven by economic rationality. This discrepancy makes technology a double edged sword in shipping. On the one hand, it plays an important role in improving safety, and on the other, it brings about work intensification and increased surveillance at workplace.

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JO - Safety Science

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Technology introduction on ships: The tension between safety and economic rationality

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