HiLo is collaborating with nine of the industry’s biggest names to test our ground-breaking Human Reliability Model. We are passionate about working together to make our seas safer, and a selection of the leading shipping companies are sharing their human data with HiLo to contribute to the Human Reliability Model’s proof of concept.

The companies sharing their data with HiLo are BSM, Shell, Maersk Tankers, Scorpio, Optimum and Zenith (Scorpio Group), Northern Marine, Stolt and Gaslog.

This project was made possible with funding from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. The Foundation is investing in safety across different industries and improving the lives of people worldwide. HiLo is grateful for the support of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation in developing the Human Reliability Model.

The Human Reliability Model will be the first-ever predictive model to be used in the industry quantifying human behaviour. HiLo is helping shipping companies to make the most of their human-related data to reduce risks to their crew. The companies taking part in the model’s proof of concept are enabling HiLo to develop a system that will ultimately make working at sea safer across the entire industry.

Why is the Human Reliability Model vital to the industry?

HiLo have conducted years of in-depth research into the physical and emotional wellbeing of crew members. There are all kinds of factors that have a mental or physical impact on seafarers. Going too long without visiting loved ones, long working hours and the worries around the current pandemic can all have a real impact on crew. Similarly, environmental factors such as poor lighting or inappropriate procedures can make even simple on-board tasks more challenging.

Anything that impacts on the mental or physical capabilities of a crew member has the potential to lead to human error, and in this industry, the consequences can be fatal. Human error is responsible for 70% of maritime incidents, and HiLo’s Human Reliability Model strives to reduce the risks of mistakes being made at sea. The lower the risk of incidents, the safer the seas are for everyone who works on them.

HiLo’s CEO, Manit Chander said “Human error is the biggest driver of maritime incidents. HiLo is revolutionising the way we approach human behaviour. Using psychological expertise and statistical analysis, we are predicting where humans are likely to impact safety. With that vital information, we can set seafarers up for success.”

How does the model work?

HiLo have combined two years of research with advanced mathematical modelling to develop the Human Reliability Model. Shipping companies share their vessels’ data with the model, enabling HiLo to analyse it against the criteria contributing towards the likelihood of mistakes occurring.

HiLo uses data to pinpoint issues that may lead to incidents in the future. This enables HiLo’s subscribers to develop long-term strategies to reduce real risks.

Data such as how long crew members are working, work/rest numbers and training levels can be transformed into invaluable risk reports. The ability to highlight the issues that are likely to lead to an incident will change the way the industry thinks about safety, saving lives at sea for years to come.

The last decade alone has seen 24,000 casualties at sea. HiLo are dedicated to working to reduce the risks to those who work at sea. The Human Reliability Model is the next step in the journey and will empower shipping companies to react to risks swiftly and in the right way.

The model’s analysis will enable companies to channel their resources into the right parts of the company and to prioritise actions for every ship in their fleets. The model offers direct visibility of the way in which companies manage their employees and highlights the areas in need of improvement.

An industry first

The Human Reliability Model has the potential to change the way shipping companies approach their human data and internal risk management. HiLo’s subscribers will receive a custom analysis of their own human data. The analysis highlights any points of weakness within the organisation, creating the opportunity to make changes and improvements where they are needed. We understand that knowing how to react to risk isn’t always simple, and so HiLo’s subscriber forum – CUPID – is on hand for maritime experts to share best practices with others in the industry.

.Many shipping companies are still reluctant to share their data due to concerns about how it will be used and who will have access to it. The process of data sharing with HiLo is completely secure and all submissions are anonymised, so subscribers feel free to share their entire data sets. The aim of the Human Reliability Model is simply to improve the safety of crew members and to reduce the risk of incidents at sea.

HiLo’s focus has always been to navigate the industry towards higher safety levels for everyone, and we need to work together to achieve it. With some of the industry’s leaders proudly sharing their data with HiLo to test out the Human Reliability Model proof of concept, we’re one step closer to safer seas.