Ship safety management at coastal waters and maritime accident analyses

Today, ships? tonnages and sizes have been expanded as a result of improvement of technology and thus, navigation is much harder now in congested waters especially in narrow straits. As a result of Turkish coastal waters and Turkish Straits are one of the most important waterways for maritime trade and transportation of energy, these sailing areas have been one of the traffic lines which has maximum risk of maritime accident at world for passing years. Being of maritime accidents risk means being of vital risks, economical risks and environmental risks. So, maritime accidents analyses and evaluations of these analyses? results are more important for minimizing the maritime accident risks and taking necessary measures for safety of navigation.In this study, it is aimed to determination of factors caused to maritime accidents and evaluation of relations between these factors by analysing data on maritime accident investigation reports belong to ships which are on international voyages in our coastal waters. So, it is thought that this study will guidance to stakeholders of Turkish maritime sector?s actions in future as an infrastructure and database to take necessary measures for minimizing maritime accidents in our coastal waters.Key words: Safety of Navigation, Ship Safety Management, Navigational Aids, Maritime Accident, Investigation of Maritime Accident