A review of human reliability analysis (HRA) application in the shipping and offshore maritime industries

The maritime industry has utilized human reliability analysis (HRA) to assess human factors, related to behaviors and actions, since the 1990s, as captured by several literature reviews. An assessment of existing studies is needed to gauge the state of maritime HRA and identify areas for expansion. This systematic literature review considers recent research specific to HRA within the shipping and offshore maritime domains. Limited to research published between 2021 and 2026, the study covers the time since past literature reviews were conducted. The review found 99 pertinent papers specific to HRA and HRA adjacent methodologies, accounting for 39% of maritime risk analysis studies. Applied HRA methods cover a variety of approaches, from first principles to hybrid network methodologies. The most common methods are Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM), and Bayesian Networks (BN). These methods are often combined with others to create unique hybrid methodologies. Although there are no consistent trends in methods, the need for structured framework and defined performance influencing factors is clear. Future research should address these needs and focus on an HRA methodology that prioritizes an approach that is both qualitative and quantitative.