[Safety in navigation: the role of the human factor]

The main aim of this paper is to examine the role of human factors in the safety of ship transport (shipping).Particularly, we analyzed the personal, psychosocial and organizational factor that intervene in this context and the consequences on the safety performance and workers' well-being. In this review, some shipping accidents and their causes are presented and a particular attention will be paid to human error, fatigue and stress, non-technical skills and perception of safety. In the final part of the paper the safety performance and its antecedents in the context of shipping will be extensively examined.