Navigational Safety in the Suez Canal: HFACS-PV Analysis of Human-Organizational Factors and Environmental Risks with Comparative Insights

Narrow waterways are among the most congested maritime areas and are frequently associated with high incidences of marine accidents. Despite being an artificial canal with mandatory pilotage, the Suez Canal poses a significant threat to maritime trade due to its narrow width and considerable length. Any accident in the canal can disrupt global trade for days. This study aims to identify Human and Organizational Factors (HOFs) and operational conditions (environmental factors) contributing to accidents in the Suez Canal. A total of 47 reported maritime accidents between 2000 and 2023 were analyzed using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System for Passenger Vessels (HFACS-PV) model. Additionally, the spatial distribution of these accidents was visualized via Tableau, and comparisons were made with other major narrow waterways. According to the analysis, 89% of accident causes were attributed to human and organizational errors, while 11% were due to operational conditions. The most common causes were unsafe acts, precondition for unsafe acts particularly mental health issues and unsafe supervision. Accidents were predominantly concentrated near the northern & southern entrances of canal and the Ismailia region, where vessels have limited maneuverability. Compared to other strategic waterways, the Suez Canal has relatively fewer accidents and collisions; however, groundings are the most common. Moreover, container ships were found to be at higher risk due to the canal’s structure and traffic density. Unlike the Turkish Straits, where older vessels are often involved, the involvement of modern ships in Suez Canal accidents underscores the critical role of human and operational failures.