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MEASUREABLE KNOWLEDGE. PROVEN SAFETY.
Fathom transforms your manuals into a living, crew-tested safety system. Replacing assumption with accountability, by turning static documentation into an active, trackable system of learning and readiness.
INTERACTION
INCREASED INTERACTION WITH SAFETY MANUALS
Safety information is carefully gathered into a vessel safety manual, yet effective implementation of the policies rely on crew reading them and acting on them. Vast pages of information are not easily digested, especially to a younger generation, leading to manuals not being read and important information being overlooked. By testing crew knowledge of the manual contents, it drives crew to open the manual and read it in order to answer a question. This process increases familiarity with the manual sections as crew not only read the part they need but also additional information, resulting in manual contents being read, digested and remembered.
IMPROVEMENT
CREW IMPROVEMENT RECORD
Demonstrating improvement requires tracking crew knowledge over time. Fathom provides a clear record of each crew member’s understanding of the vessel’s safety equipment, procedures, and policies. Through increased engagement with safety manuals, equipment location testing, and targeted drills, this record should evidence continuous improvement in safety readiness.
“Safety management objectives of the company should continuously improve safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparing for emergencies related both to safety and environmental protection”. ISM Code 1.2.2.3
PINPOINTING
PINPOINTING GAPS IN CREW KNOWLEDGE
Drills and additional training play a vital role in increasing vessel familiarisation and emergency preparedness, Fathom’s aim is to enhance these efforts. By pinpointing gaps in crew knowledge, Fathom informs drills and training sessions, making them more targeted and effective, while ensuring those gaps are properly addressed.
Example - During weekly testing, five crew members on a 100 meter vessel were asked, “Which of the following messages would be broadcast to indicate an urgent situation onboard the vessel, such as an engine failure or a crew member requiring urgent medical attention?” Out of the five asked, three answered incorrectly. During the next safety talk with the crew, or immediately on a one-to-one basis, that critical information can be passed on, possibly saving lives.
PREPAREDNESS
INCREASED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Effective responses to emergency situations require an in-depth knowledge of procedures and equipment locations. An instant recollection of the nearest fire extinguishers and the correct type needed, can be the difference between loss of life and minimal damage.
Example - On a vessel that recently passed its annual audit with only one non-conformity, Fathom data revealed a critical gap: when all crew were asked to locate the line-throwing rocket, only 5 out of 12 could do so. In a real emergency, this lack of knowledge could mean an overboard crewmate ends up an additional 100 metres away—out of range of the vital life-saving device. This highlights the discrepancy between audit-based assessments and actual crew readiness.
RAISING SAFETY CULTURE
A vessel’s emergency preparedness is only as strong as its least-prepared crew member and when more experienced crew support others in building knowledge and confidence, it can make a critical difference in an emergency. Weekly Fathom testing actively strengthens a vessel’s safety culture by making safety a regular topic of conversation in crew messes and cabins, bringing weaknesses and poor confidence to light. Vessels adopting initiatives like #FathomFriday or encouraging testing during watch duty, send a clear message: crew safety is a shared priority and a core company value.
CULTURE
SPEEDS-UP AND ENHANCES THE INITIAL FAMILIARISATION PROCESS
Initial familiarisation processes vary in quality and this critical safety step can sometimes be undermined by a lack of time. Fathom’s Physical Familiarisation module addresses this directly. By requiring crew to physically walk the vessel and scan NFC tags placed on actual safety equipment, it ensures hands-on engagement. This method relieves senior crew from the time burden while delivering real-time verification that new crew can locate key items.
Furthermore, Fathom’s digital platform includes critical initial questions drawn from the vessel’s own safety manuals creating a verifiable record of what has been read and understood. In contrast to legacy methods, Fathom turns familiarisation into an active, measurable, and continuous process, raising onboard safety standards from day one.
SPEEDS UP
AUDITING DOCUMENTATION AND POLICY ACCURACY
Accurate, up-to-date information is essential for vessel safety, yet changes in equipment, location, or policy often take time to be reflected in documentation. Fathom’s questions are based on the current contents of the safety manuals and vessel policies. When crew repeatedly answer a question incorrectly, it may reveal a discrepancy between practice and documentation. Likewise, when senior crew participate in testing, they may identify correct answers marked as wrong, prompting updates to the app or the manual. This feedback loop helps maintain accuracy, ensuring that safety-critical information remains reliable and current.
AUDITING
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