Effect on Safety of Navigation Due to Commercial Pressure in Merchant Ships

Abstract

The thesis is going to discuss the influence of commercial pressure on safety of navigation of merchant ships, explore and work into the implications of economical requests, take care of employees, and act by regulations. The primary data of this extensive analysis of the academic literature and international rules such as the bulk carriers, tankers and containers ships are the survey of 62 sailors on variety of vessels. These findings reflect that commercial pressure is vast as percentage of respondents who were affected by commercial pressure was higher than fifty percent during each voyage. The most serious safety issue found is the fatigue of the crew, with 77.4% of respondents citing this, which greatly compromises the decision-making, situational awareness and adherence to the STCW and MLC conventions. The other major concerns are delayed vessel maintenance, expedited passage planning, lack of communication between ship and ship management, and over dependence on automation. These interconnected factors reflect Reason’s accident causation framework, where systemic organizational pressures align to create pathways for navigational incidents. Although regulatory frameworks such as SOLAS, ISM, and STCW provide safeguards, their effectiveness is constrained by uneven enforcement and commercial incentives that prioritize efficiency over safety. The study argues that mitigating these risks requires a multifaceted approach: enhanced manning, continuous training, predictive maintenance, strengthened communication protocols, and contractual reforms in charter parties to protect against safety-related delays. By integrating theoretical insights with empirical evidence, this research contributes to the understanding of how commercial dynamics compromise maritime safety and offers practical recommendations for fostering sustainable and secure shipping operations.