Fire and explosion accidents occur frequently in tankers because they transport large quantities of dangerous cargo. To prevent fire and explosion accidents, it is necessary to analyze factors that cause accidents and their effects. In this study, factors that cause fire and explosion accidents were classified using the 4M disaster analysis method, and each factor’s effect on the accident was analyzed using fault tree analysis (FTA). First, the unsafe tank atmosphere environment was identified as a primary cause of fire and explosion accidents in tankers, and the underlying causes of these accidents were investigated. The probability of underlying causes leading to primary causes was derived using an expert survey. The results showed that management and media factors had a greater impact on the unsafe tank atmosphere environment than human factors. To prevent fire and explosion accidents, it is necessary to ensure sufficient working and resting times for seafarers and compliance with procedures and work guidelines. A generalization of the results of present and future studies will enable the identification of the cause and preventive measures for fire and explosion accidents in tankers. Furthermore, this will reduce accidents in tankers and contribute to future safety management measures of ships and companies.

Amid structural changes driven by the greening and digital transformation of the maritime industry, the demand for career transitions of seafarers with onboard experience to shore-based positions—particularly ship superintendents—is steadily increasing. However, the current lack of a systematic education and career development framework to support such transitions poses a critical challenge for shipping companies seeking to secure sustainable human resources. The aim of this study was to develop a competency-based training program that facilitates the effective transition of seafarers to shore-based ship superintendent roles. We integrated a developing a curriculum (DACUM) analysis with competency-based job analysis to achieve this aim. The core competencies required for ship superintendent duties were identified through three expert consultations. In addition, social network analysis (SNA) was used to quantitatively assess the structure and priority of the training content. The analysis revealed that convergent competencies, such as digital technology literacy, responsiveness to environmental regulations, multicultural organizational management, and interpretation of global maritime regulations, are essential for a successful career shift. Based on these findings, a modular training curriculum comprising both common foundational courses and specialized advanced modules tailored to job categories was designed. The proposed curriculum integrated theoretical instruction, practical training, and reflective learning to enhance both applied understanding and onsite implementation capabilities. Furthermore, the concept of a Seafarer Success Support Platform was proposed to support a lifecycle-based career development pathway that enables rotational mobility between sea and shore positions. This digital learning platform was designed to offer personalized success pathways aligned with the career stages and competency needs of maritime personnel. Its cyclical structure, comprising career transition, competency development, field application, and performance evaluation, enables seamless career integration between shipboard- and shore-based roles. Therefore, the platform has the potential to evolve into a practical educational model that integrates training, career development, and policies. This study contributes to maritime human resource development by integrating the DACUM method with a competency-based framework and applying social network analysis (SNA) to quantitatively prioritize training content. It further proposes the Seafarer Success Support Platform as an innovative model to support structured career transitions from shipboard roles to shore-based supervisory positions.

The levels of informatization, automation, and intelligence are continuously improving; however, the risks associated with the increased design and operational complexity of ship systems are increasing. Large-scale ship accidents can occur for several reasons. Existing accident analysis methods that examine marine accidents from the perspective of causal one-to-one correspondence have limitations in systematically analyzing complex marine risks during cause identification for the prevention of similar accidents. This study focuses on a systematic causality analysis of the factors related to human error in marine accidents that may occur during the arrival and departure of mega container ships. In particular, a representative case of the Motor Vessel (MV) Milano Bridge crane contact accident at Busan New Port is considered. To explore the complex organizational–technical, human–technical, and organizational–human relationships relevant to this case, human factors (seafarer, pilot, etc.) that are closely related to the linked causes were analyzed using the functional resonance analysis method. This study aims to reduce human error and prevent marine accidents, including pilotage.

Owing to stricter environmental regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020, the demand of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering is expected to grow by approximately 15% during 2020–2025 along with increased investments in eco-friendly ships by global shipping companies. Thus, determining optimal methods for LNG bunkering using existing ports that lack LNG bunkering infrastructure is necessary. Here, a method is proposed to determine the optimal LNG bunkering method for existing ports. Analyzing previous studies, we selected four evaluation factors: assessment of LNG supply for ships, suitability of fuel supply, risk of spillage, and domestic and international standards, which were used to calculate a geometric aggregation score via normalization, weight, and aggregation for selecting an appropriate LNG bunkering method. The analytical results indicated that the ship to ship (STS) method, evaluated based on the size and type of ships, is optimal for the Busan port. This is expected to contribute to the competitiveness of ports and their safety and economic feasibility by serving as a basis for determining the optimal LNG bunkering implemented in existing ports. It is necessary to expand the follow-up research to improve the evaluation method by aggregating more improved data through real cases.