Bridge Resource Management (BRM) has been a fundamental practice in the maritime industry for more than three decades, with formal international enforcement introduced in the last decade through the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Originating from aviation’s Crew Resource Management (CRM), BRM was developed to mitigate maritime accidents by enhancing non-technical skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and situational awareness. Since its adoption as a mandatory requirement under the 2010 Manila Amendments, BRM has become an essential component of officer training programs worldwide. Empirical research over the past decade suggests that BRM training is generally well-received and improves awareness of human factors. However, evidence regarding its long-term impact on behavioural change and its effectiveness in reducing accidents remains inconclusive, indicating a persistent gap between training outcomes and operational performance. Despite these limitations, existing studies emphasize BRM’s critical role in promoting a strong safety culture, improving bridge team coordination, and supporting error management within increasingly complex socio-technical maritime systems. As maritime operations evolve, BRM continues to serve as a cornerstone of human factor management, underscoring the need for further research to evaluate its effectiveness and adapt training methodologies to emerging challenges. The purpose of this research is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of marine accidents that occurred after almost a decade of mandatory BRM implementation, focusing specifically on incidents where deficiencies in Non-Technical Skills (NTS) were identified as contributing factors. This investigation aims to determine whether the principles and practices of BRM have effectively mitigated risks associated with human performance in real-world operational contexts. Additionally, the study seeks to evaluate the correlation between BRM training and actual bridge team behavior during critical situations. By examining accident reports and identifying recurring patterns related to communication breakdowns, poor situational awareness, and flawed decision-making, the research provides insights into the effectiveness of current BRM strategies and proposes evidence-based recommendations for enhancing NTS integration within maritime safety frameworks.
Hosny et al. (Mon,) studied this question.