Two shipping companies can experience the exact same near miss and walk away with completely different outcomes: one treats it as a paperwork exercise and files the report, while the other traces the event back through the evidence to the organisational weakness that allowed it to happen, then fixes that weakness for good. The difference rarely comes down to luck. It comes down to whether the people running the investigation know how to separate an immediate cause from a root cause, and whether leadership is willing to act on what the investigation finds rather than simply close the file. This specialized training course starts from the investigation itself, the evidence, the interviews, the analysis, before connecting those skills to the leadership behaviour and safety culture that determine whether lessons actually stick.

This course is delivered by Arab British Fellowship Training Academy through the Root Cause Analysis and Safety Leadership for Maritime Organisations Training Course, a program that builds both the technical investigative skills and the leadership mindset that shipping companies and vessel operators need to strengthen safety performance across their organizations. Trainees learn structured investigation techniques that transform incidents into opportunities for meaningful, lasting improvement.

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Apply structured methodologies for investigating maritime accidents and incidents.
• Conduct root cause analysis to identify underlying contributing factors.
• Distinguish between immediate causes, underlying causes, and root causes of incidents.
• Prepare comprehensive and objective incident investigation reports.
• Develop corrective and preventive action plans based on investigation findings.
• Understand the core principles of maritime safety leadership and its influence on organizational performance.
• Explain the relationship between leadership behavior and the development of a strong safety culture.
• Foster continuous improvement in safety performance through leadership engagement.

Target Group

This course is designed for a wide range of professionals working in the maritime and shipping sector, including:

• Ship captains, senior officers, and vessel operations managers.
• Designated Persons Ashore (DPA) and safety management coordinators.
• Health, safety, and environment (HSE) managers in shipping companies.
• Marine superintendents and fleet safety officers.
• Internal auditors and incident investigation teams.
• Port and terminal safety officers.
• Human resources and training managers involved in safety development.

Reading the Evidence: Root Cause Analysis in Practice

• Distinguishing between immediate, underlying, and root causes.
• Common root cause analysis methodologies used in maritime investigations.
• Applying the "5 Whys" and fishbone diagram techniques.
• Avoiding common pitfalls in root cause identification.

Interviewing Witnesses and Preserving the Scene

• Methods for gathering physical and documentary evidence.
• Conducting effective witness interviews.
• Managing sensitive or conflicting testimony during investigations.
• Ensuring confidentiality and fairness throughout the process.

Principles of a Fair, Effective Investigation

• Objectives and scope of maritime incident investigations.
• Legal and regulatory requirements governing accident investigation.
• Roles and responsibilities of investigation team members.
• Maintaining objectivity and avoiding blame during investigations.

From Findings to Fix: Reporting and Corrective Action

• Structuring a clear and objective investigation report.
• Presenting root cause findings to management and stakeholders.
• Developing corrective and preventive action plans based on investigation outcomes.
• Monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of action plans.

What Makes Leadership Safety-Driven

• Core principles and qualities of effective safety leadership.
• Differences between compliance-driven and leadership-driven safety approaches.
• Influence of leadership behavior on crew attitudes and decision-making.
• Building trust and accountability within maritime safety structures.

Understanding and Measuring Safety Culture

• Definition and characteristics of a strong safety culture.
• Stages of safety culture maturity within maritime organizations.
• Role of communication and transparency in reinforcing safety values.
• Measuring and assessing safety culture across an organization.

Sustaining Improvement Over Time

• Leadership's role in reinforcing lessons learned over time.
• Embedding continuous improvement into safety practices.
• Encouraging proactive incident and near-miss reporting.
• Recognizing and rewarding positive safety behaviors.