The Human Element & Biological Risk: A Perceptual Audit for Marine Insurers in the Strait of Gibraltar.

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In the logistics hub of the Strait of Gibraltar, operational safety faces an unprecedented challenge: the Andes strain of Hantavirus. Beyond the intrinsic biological risk, a critical threat emerges for insurers and shipowners: the degradation of the human factor and the civil liability arising from ineffective crisis management.

1. Causality and Due Diligence As a Marine Surveyor (COMME), the analysis of casualties during epidemic outbreaks must focus on the «Duty of Care.» The forensic question is not only if the virus was present, but whether the shipowner implemented due diligence to mitigate human error induced by panic and stress. A breakdown on the bridge or a delay in cargo handling are often the physical manifestations of a collapse in human factor management.
2. The Human Factor: A Risk Multiplier The health alert in Algeciras generates «Alert Fatigue.» From a judicial psychology perspective, cognitive load increases drastically when crews perceive a 50% mortality threat. This situation degrades situational awareness, increasing the likelihood of operational accidents. As a judicial expert (AN13552), assessing these cognitive states is essential to determine the imputability of errors in civil liability litigation within the EU framework.
3. Biosecurity and OSH Compliance Occupational Safety and Health (PRL) acts as the insured’s legal shield. A biosecurity protocol that fails to consider human factors—such as resistance to using PPE due to fatigue or lack of clear communication—is a failed protocol. Technical auditing of these measures allows P&I Clubs to differentiate between a fortuitous incident and organizational negligence.

4. Conclusion for the Insurance Market Loss Prevention in the Strait of Gibraltar requires a tripartite approach integrating marine surveying, safety regulations, and judicial psychological analysis. Only through comprehensive reports that validate human factor resilience can operators’ civil liability be protected in this emerging crisis.

León Javier Romero Torán Senior Marine Surveyor (COMME)

Judicial Expert Psychologist (AN13552) Cádiz, España saludpsybienestar@gmail.com