Partnership Aims to Revolutionise Safety Standards Across Ports
Port Skills and Safety (PSS) has joined forces with Scottish technology firm COMET to introduce an innovative initiative designed to enhance safety performance and data intelligence in the UK port sector. This collaboration combines COMET’s cutting-edge software and expertise in port industry services with PSS’s in-depth industry knowledge and extensive membership base, delivering practical, data-driven solutions to address the unique challenges facing port operators and their supply chains.
Key Benefits for PSS Members
As part of this initiative, PSS members will receive free access to COMET’s Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis platform. This robust solution is designed to apply thorough analysis and proportionate measures to manage incidents, ranging from minor slips and trips to significant accidents and non-conformances. By implementing this platform, port operators will be able to effectively track, investigate, and analyse safety incidents to ensure continuous improvement.
Alongside the platform, PSS members will also receive access to additional incentivised offerings, including HSE Culture Assessments and Behavioural Training Programmes. These resources aim to foster long-term improvements in port safety and operations, making them safer and more efficient for all involved.
Advancing Industry-Wide Safety
Debbie Cavaldoro, CEO of PSS, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with COMET goes beyond supporting individual ports. Our goal is to raise standards across the entire industry. By sharing data and insights, we will create a powerful ecosystem of safety and operational excellence. Our mission is to make ports safer and to position the sector as one of the safest places to work.”
Mark Rushton, CEO of COMET, also expressed his commitment to the initiative, explaining, “The core of this project is harnessing the data and insights generated through the use of these solutions. Every service and product in this offering is designed to enhance skills, safety, and standards within the sector. Most importantly, these solutions generate data that can be transformed into actionable insights, which will drive long-term value for PSS members and push the port industry forward.”
Building on Previous Success
The new initiative builds on the success of a prior collaboration between PSS and COMET, where they explored the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in root cause analysis for port operations. During this pilot phase, data from various port groups—such as first responder reports, safety observations, and investigations was analysed to identify common root causes of incidents. This project revealed the need for higher-quality data to fully leverage AI’s capabilities, and PSS is now actively encouraging more ports to participate in the initiative. Collecting comprehensive data from incidents, near misses, and safety observations will enable the port industry to better harness the power of data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Strengthening the Future of UK Ports
Through this partnership, PSS and COMET are taking significant strides towards improving the safety and operational standards within the UK port industry. By harnessing data intelligence, innovative technologies, and expert training, the initiative promises to deliver meaningful and lasting improvements, ensuring the future of UK ports is safer, more efficient, and better equipped to handle the challenges of tomorrow.