Abstract: Given the increasing prevalence of automated systems on board ships, it is important that the human element is considered throughout their design, implementation and operational use. Automation can be beneficial to operators of complex systems in terms of a reduction in workload or the release of resources to perform other onboard duties. However, it can also potentially be detrimental to system control through increasing the risk of inadvertent human error leading to accidents and incidents at sea.
A team of researchers from our Constantza Maritime University had participated at a study, together with master students, which wants to release the dangerous situation on sea based on human factors. In this scope has been used a full mission ship handling simulator with three full bridges and liquid cargo handling simulators, developing applications in navigation and ship handling area, with different grades of difficulty and risk. These applications brings the future deck officers in usually situations on board, forced to use the present navigation technology and study their options and reactions in these cases, focus on situations with risk of errors, human errors, appearance. Students had to navigate and maneuver very large vessels, as tankers, LPG or LNG vessels. Scenarios used in the research were very complex, combining near coastal navigation with piloting and anchoring or mooring operations. All these actions were done in real time and in different weather conditions.
Results of the study revealed the importance and benefits of a long term training of future deck officers, based on the use of modern and complex marine simulators, and the constant progress of the achievements of the trainees.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Dr. Eugen BARSAN graduate Naval Academy in Constantza, Romania in 1982. From 1982 to 1991 he sailed as deck officer in the Romanian merchant fleet, on different types of maritime ships. From 1991 his activities were related with the maritime education and training, teaching different nautical sciences at Constanza Maritime University. He completed is PhD in Surface Transport in 2004 defending his Doctoral thesis on “Oil Spill Prevention and Response along the Romanian Coastline" at Bucharest Technical University. In the last 18 years was appointed as Head of the Nautical Department, Vice Dean of the Maritime Transport Faculty of Constantza Maritime University. Now he is the Vice Rector for research and international cooperation at Constantza Maritime University. Dr. Barsan's primary areas of interest are: radar navigation, navigation and ship handling simulation, maritime safety and security, waterborne transport. Many of his research projects deal with optimization of maritime transport, analysis of human errors in navigation and ship handling, maritime traffic safety and control, man-machine interface in waterborne transport. He is member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) and of the International Maritime simulation Forum (IMSF). Acting also as Director of the Constantza Maritime University Simulation Center, he is managing the development of the maritime simulation facilities and supervising the research activities that are applying simulations and on site experiments.