This is a study into the development of a new effective method enables optimization of VHF radiocommunication training under limited time. VHF radiotelephone is recognized as one of the most important equipment for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications, and its installation is compulsory for all passenger ships and cargo ships more than 300 gross tonnage engaged on international voyage under 1974 SOLAS, as amended. Moreover, every VHF radio operator is required to hold a proper certificate in accordance with Radio Regulations (RR). However, inadequate communications are conducted frequently due to insufficient knowledge and skills of VHF radio operators despite all of them are certified. The development of more effective training for VHF radio operators is therefore examined, in this study, to enhance maritime safety. New VHF radiocommunication training using simulators with three key factors (i.e. use of a common scenario in different languages, ship models visualizing traffic situation and actual recorded voice of VHF radio) was conducted to the cadets on the training ship. The results of the examination conducted in the end of the training indicated that there was significant improvement in the cadets’ knowledge and skills on the VHF radiocommunication. The study found the effectiveness of the new VHF radiocommunication training.

 Painting is an essential work for ship maintenance. Various types of paints are also used on training ship. Organic solvents contained in paints have caused health problems for workers. On the training ship, measures such as ventilation and the wearing of gas masks are taken when painting work is conducted inside the ship. However, the concentration measurements of organic solvents were not performed on the training ship. The purpose of this study is to measure the concentration of organic solvents to understand their harmfulness, consider ways to improve the working environment, and contribute to maintaining the health of the crew and cadets who carry out painting work.

 The near miss reports are utilized for preventing accidents and incidents in various industrial fields. The authors analyze countermeasures against both actual near misses and hypothetical ones which crew expected to likely occur.

 First, 28,932 countermeasures reported from Japanese domestic tankers are categorized into 11 thinking steps based in 4 step/M (Minimum encounter, Minimum probability, Multiple detection and Minimum damage) by text mining technique.

 Secondly, the data is analyzed by Principal Component Analysis; it is shown that the degree of difficulty in each countermeasure taken on tanker is corresponding to the first principal component and spare time up to taking countermeasure is corresponding to the second one. It is clarified that these two components can be used as index to detect vulnerability of countermeasures taken on tankers.