A context-aware risk assessment framework for critical shipboard operations: Application to bunkering

Critical shipboard operations such as bunkering, cargo handling, mooring, and enclosed-space entry are carried out under conditions that differ from one execution to the other, yet the risk score recorded for a hazard remains fixed for a set of procedures. This study develops a context-aware risk assessment framework in which the assessed severity of a hazard is conditioned on the circumstances of its execution. The framework is generic and integrates Delphi-based hazard identification, Safety and Critical Effect Analysis with fuzzy inference, and the Bayesian Best-Worst Method for weighting contextual factors, whereas the hazard inventory and the contextual dimensions are established for the operation under assessment. Bunkering is used as the demonstration case. Under adverse conditions the score of an unchanged hazard rose from 80 to 201, and the resulting ranking correlated strongly with conventional expert-based rankings, confirming that operational context can be quantified without discarding established practice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cite this article: APA Style:Cicek, K., Celik, M., Cebi, S., & Şahin, G. (2027). A context-aware risk assessment framework for critical shipboard operations: Application to bunkering. Maritime Technology and Research, 9(1), 290662. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2027.290662 MDPI Style:Cicek, K.; Celik, M.; Cebi, S.; Şahin, G. Agarwala, N. A context-aware risk assessment framework for critical shipboard operations: Application to bunkering. Marit. Technol. Res. 2027, 9, 290662. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2027.290662 Vancouver Style:Cicek K, Celik M, Cebi S, Şahin G. (2027). A context-aware risk assessment framework for critical shipboard operations: Application to bunkering. Marit. Technol. Res. 9(1):290662. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2027.290662 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Highlights Context-aware risk model for critical shipboard operations is proposed Human and environmental factors are integrated into risk evaluation Dynamic risk shifts are captured under changing operational conditions A bunkering case demonstrates the model's practical applicability The framework supports proactive safety and operational decision making