This article highlights how Bowtie Analysis in Maritime Safety can improve inspection protocols to prevent fire and explosions incidents. Ship inspections are crucial for the maritime industry to reduce accidents. A bowtie analysis can visualise omissions in inspection that lead to undesired events. 

Fire and explosions account for 17% of inspection-related accidents in the maritime industry.  

Here is a practical example of how bowtie analysis can help identify omissions in inspection and how they can escalate to major accidents such as a fire and explosion.  

Fire and Explosions Accidents 

Click here to see the fire and explosion accident bowtie in OpenRisk: Fire/Explosion Bowtie – OpenRisk

A bowtie analysis is instrumental in understanding fire and explosion accidents. The diagrams reveal that poor repairs, poor maintenance, and poor inspection can lead directly to these types of accidents. For example, through using a bowtie diagram, it will be evident that poor maintenance and inspection does not necessarily lead to a potential fire, but when other events such as excessive corrosion or overheating happen, these factors will more likely escalate the situation to fires or explosions accidents.  

With efficient inspection conditions such as leakage from corroded pipes that can lead to fire can be prevented. 

Using a bowtie software tool such as OpenRisk allows organisations to create their own bowtie diagrams, helping teams to visualise threats, barriers, and consequences clearly. 

In addition, the bowtie diagram can be used for other inspection-related accidents such as equipment failure, which accounts for 50% of inspection-related accidents or for machinery engine failure. For example, by highlighting the failures in both automatic and manual firefighting systems, the situation can be exacerbated. Combined with inefficient inspections, this can lead to severe damage and injuries. 

Using the bowtie tool for ship inspections

Bowtie analysis tools, like OpenRisk, serve as a powerful tool in ship inspections within the maritime industry. They offer a detailed and visual approach to understanding and managing risks. It enhances the ability to uncover potential hazards, evaluate inspection effectiveness, and ensure safer maritime operations. Examples such as the passenger ship fire demonstrate how bowtie diagrams can identify critical points where improved inspections could prevent accidents, ensuring the well-being of both crew and cargo. 

Picture showing fire and explosion bowtie in the maritime industry.

For more control over your Barrier Management strategy, you can implement Presight Barrier Management allowing you to ensure compliance, and a proactive approach. With Presight Barrier Management, you can monitor the health of your barriers as part of your process safety strategy. This gives you a full overview of both human factors and technical elements. With Presight Barrier Management you can confidently demonstrate that your assets are safe and that you know it.