DEVELOPMENT OF RISK-BASED RANKING MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE UNITED-STATES-COAST-GUARD VESSEL INSPECTION PROGRAM

This paper describes the results of an analysis of the effectiveness o f the U.S. Coast Guard's efforts to promote the safety of life and pro perty at sea through its program to inspect large, ocean-going vessels . The effectiveness of specific U.S. Coast Guard vessel inspection act ivities was evaluated using risk-based metrics that linked categories of root causes of accidents to the particular inspection activities de signed to reduce the risk of each root cause category. The results dem onstrate a risk-based ranking of USCG inspection activities. These met rics, describes as measures of effectiveness (MOEs), yield insights re garding the most beneficial areas in which to concentrate inspection r esources. Insights regarding quality of vessel casualty investigation data and database design as related to risk-based importance analysis are also discussed. The MOEs constructed in this study are specific to the USCG's Marine Inspection and Boarding Program, but the methodolog y of the study is based on sound theoretical principles that are proba bly applicable to a range of maritime safety activities. Hence the met hodology applies equally to other important governmental regulatory pr ograms and can be similarly used to measure their effectiveness and as an aid to decision-making.