Abstract: The Spanish National Institute of Statistics reports that fatal accidents are substantially higher in commercial fishing fleets than in merchant shipping, although there are a significant percentage of Spanish merchant ships involved. According to casualty statistics, more than 60% of all engine room fires are initiated by hot spots. Oil leakages are usually not properly identified and corrected, a problem that must be related to marine engineers’ fatigue under extreme working conditions. In this regard, datasheets and standards do not provide clear information about the ambience suitable for the engine room, its design conditions, and the role of marine engineers in preventing work-related risks. Formal safety assessment is the first step in a new approach to maritime safety that involves using risk and cost-benefit assessment techniques to assist the decision making process. A new air conditioning control system based on general thermal comfort levels is a subsequent solution that will be presented.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Jose Antonio Orosa Garcia is a PhD in Marine Engineering and graduated in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from the University of A Coruna. His research is related to indoor ambiences and energy saving. In the recent past, he has participated in the International Energy Agency Annex 41 and collaborated with the University of Porto in research on energy saving and work risk prevention in indoor ambiences. Presently, he is Professor of HVAC and Head of the Department of Energy and Marine Propulsion of the University of A Coruna (Spain). He is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and ASHRAE.