The Influence of Safety Performance on Competitive Advantage in the Shipping Industry: A Systematic Literature Review Study

1. Introduction

In the world of shipping, safety is not only a moral responsibility but also a source of competitive advantage. Shipping companies that are able to demonstrate a high commitment to safety have a greater chance of winning customer trust, expanding market share, and reducing operational costs owing to avoidable incidents. Based on a report by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty,¹ 75% of financial losses arise from the top 10 causes of loss, while the top three causes account for close to half (45%) of the value. By prioritizing safety, companies can create a positive reputation and ensure business sustainability amid fierce industry competition.

In the context of shipping safety, the Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, continues to campaign for the importance of shipping safety to the public. Shipping safety includes the fulfillment of safety and security requirements in water transportation and ports. The shipping community and sea transportation actors are expected to become increasingly aware of the importance of safety planning from the beginning to reduce the risk of accidents.

Based on data from the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, there were a total of 1,453 ship accident incidents in the 2015–2023 period. Of these, 37% were sunken ships, 28% were shipwrecked, and the remainder included fires, collisions, and other incidents. The trend of shipsinking accidents shows an average annual decline of 8%. However, incidents such as ship fires showed fluctuations, with a peak of 56 cases occurring in 2018. These data demonstrate the importance of collaborative efforts between regulators, cruise operators, and the public to improve safety.

Previous studies have provided a solid foundation for improving the shipping safety. Grech, Horberry, and Koester² in the book Human Factors in the Maritime Domain highlight the importance of human factors in improving shipping safety, especially in decision-making and operational risk management. Safety Culture Indicators to show that a strong safety culture can significantly reduce shipping incidents.³ Meanwhile, Ekstrand and Tapaninen⁴ evaluated the role of technologies such as the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and found that the implementation of this technology can reduce the risk of incidents by up to 30%. Hale et al.⁵ proposed a systemic approach to safety management, emphasizing the need to integrate training, regulations, and periodic inspections to create a holistic approach that is more effective than fragmented methods. Huang et al.⁶ demonstrated the potential of big data technology and predictive analytics to predict operational risks and provide early warnings to reduce the likelihood of incidents. These studies emphasize the importance of multidimensional collaboration in improving shipping safety, from strengthening safety culture to applying advanced technology. The complexity of this problem demonstrates the need for a systemic and holistic approach to understanding and improving shipping safety.

To address these challenges, this study used a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. SLR is designed to identify, assess, and interpret research findings related to a particular topic.⁷ This approach allows researchers to analyze the implementation of Safety Performance in depth from a theoretical and practical perspective, as well as identify relevant solutions to address shipping safety problems in Indonesia. Thus, the SLR is an important and urgent step in developing an evidence-based framework for improving marine transportation safety.

2. Literature review

3. Research methods

This study uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method with data collected through a literature search of the Scopus database. As shown in Table 1, the data on safety performance publications was sourced from the Scopus database and processed by the researcher (2025).

The search results in the SCOPUS database were carried out through two main steps: an overall search across the SCOPUS database and a more specific search on the subject area Business, Management, and Accounting. In the first step, a search was conducted using the keywords (“safety*” AND “performance*”), which resulted in 190,532 articles from 1919 to 2023. All the articles were written in English and covered a wide range of research areas. The second step was to narrow the search to the subject area Business, Management, and Accounting using the keywords (“safety*” AND “performance*”) AND (LIMIT-TO (SUBJAREA, “SPARK PLUG”). This search yielded 4,769 articles written in English, with a publication time span from 1963 to 2023. This step provides a sharp focus on the relevance of the article to the field being studied.

The eligibility criteria in this study include data collection related to factors that affect safety performance, such as safety culture, technology, human factors, and regulations. The exclusion criteria for this study include manuscripts that are not fully accessible and those that do not align with the research topic. The risk assessment of bias is conducted using standardized tools to evaluate potential bias in study design, data collection methods, and potential conflicts of interest, with independent assessors working together to reach consensus. Synthesis of results is done by combining data from relevant studies using meta-analysis if possible, or synthesizing narratively. Reporting bias assessments are performed to ensure that the reported results reflect accurate data, with no results being ignored or only reported if significant. Finally, certainty assessments were conducted using the GRADE approach to assess the quality of evidence involving risk of bias, consistency of findings, accuracy of estimates, and potential conflicts of interest.

The journals found in the search used both qualitative and quantitative approaches, which showed that research related to Safety Performance has remained relevant in recent years. This relevance is reflected in the diversity of the research methods used to explore various aspects of Safety Performance. As shown in Table 2, the steps and objectives of the research using Systematic Literature Review analysis:

The literature review questions formed are as follows.

4. Results

Before discussing the diagram, it is essential to outline the study selection process, which involves identifying records, screening for eligibility, and selecting studies based on inclusion criteria. The diagram below shows the step-by-step process, from initial identification to the final selection of studies included in the review.

Based on Figure 1, the study selection process began with a comprehensive search through the Scopus database, which resulted in a total of 190,532 documents. After removing duplicates, ineligible records, and irrelevant studies, 4,969 reports were requested to be retrieved, but 200 reports could not be retrieved due to access or availability issues, resulting in only 4,769 reports being assessed for eligibility, resulting in 4,769 studies being included in the final review. The included studies focus on different aspects of Safety Performance in the context of Business, Management, and Accounting, with study characteristics that include quantitative and qualitative types, as well as coming from various industry sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. The study covers a range of publications from 1963 to 2023.

Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram systematic literature reviews.

A risk of bias assessment was conducted on each study, which included an evaluation of selection bias, performance, detection, and reporting, with results showing that some studies had potential bias in reporting unbalanced outcomes. Each study provides summary statistics and effect measures that calculate the influence of factors such as safety culture, technology, and human factors on safety performance. The results of the synthesis show that safety culture has a significant influence on safety performance, while the influence of technology is more varied.

Heterogeneity investigations showed that study design, industry type, and cultural factors influenced the results, while sensitivity analysis showed that results for safety culture remained consistent even though studies with a high risk of bias were excluded. An assessment of reporting bias revealed that some studies tended to report positive results that could lead to overestimation of effects. Certainty assessment of the evidence with the GRADE approach showed that the evidence for safety culture and technology adoption had a moderate level of certainty, while the evidence for human factors had low certainty due to methodological inconsistencies and a higher risk of bias.

5. Discussion

The results of this study show that the number of documents related to Safety Performance has experienced a significant increasing trend over time. Based on the data processed from Scopus, the graph of document distribution per year ( Figure 2) shows two main patterns.

Figure 2. Number of documents per year related to safety performance.

Figure 2 shows the distribution of the number of documents related to Safety Performance per year based on data from Scopus. The graph on the left depicts the overall number of documents, whereas the graph on the right focuses on documents in the Business, Management and Accounting categories. Based on the graph on the left, the number of publications on Safety Performance shows a significant increase, particularly after 2000. Previously, publications included only a few documents per year, from 1919 to the 1990s. However, this trend changed, with a sharp spike in the early 2000s, reaching nearly 20,000 documents per year by 2023. This reflects the increasing attention paid to safety issues in various sectors, along with technological developments and the need for safer working practices.

Meanwhile, the graph on the right shows that research related to Safety Performance in the fields of Business, Management and Accounting is also experiencing a similar upward trend, albeit on a smaller scale. Publications became consistent after the 1980s and experienced a sharp spike after the 2000s, reaching more than 400 documents per year by 2023. Overall, these two graphs show that Safety Performance is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in various disciplines and industrial contexts.

Figure 3 shows the ranking of the top ten publication sources that contributed to Safety Performance research, both in general and in the specific categories of Business, Management and Accounting. In the graph on the left, it can be seen that general publications on Safety Performance are dominated by engineering and transportation journals, such as SAE Technical Papers, Proceedings of SPIE, and Transportation Research Record. This trend showed a significant increase after 2000, reflecting the dominance of engineering and science in safety-related research. The number of documents from these journals has increased sharply over the past decade, indicating increased attention to safety issues in various technical sectors.

Figure 3. Top 10 safety performance publication sources.

Meanwhile, the graph on the right highlights the sources of publications that focus on the Business, Management and Accounting categories. Journals such as the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, the Journal of Cleaner Production, and Engineering Construction and Architectural Management are the main sources of publications in this field. The trend of publications in this category has been consistent since 2000 and continues to increase, peaking in recent years. Research in this area has generally focused on project management, sustainability, resource efficiency, and technological innovation in the context of safety.

Figure 4 shows the distribution of documents related to Safety Performance by country or region for both document categories and documents limited to the fields of Business, Management and Accounting. Here is the explanation:

Figure 4. Documents by country/region.

In the graph on the left, which includes all documents on Safety Performance, it can be seen that the United States has the highest number of publications, exceeding 50,000 documents. This position is followed by China, with the number of documents approaching 40,000, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, each producing approximately 10,000 to 15,000 documents. Other countries such as Canada, Japan, and India also contributed significantly to the number of publications. This shows that the issue of Safety Performance has become a global concern, with the dominance of developed countries with strong research and development infrastructure.

The graph on the right shows the distribution of documents in the Business, Management and Accounting categories. The United States remains in the lead with the highest number of publications (more than 1,000 documents), followed by China, which is close to that number. Countries such as the UK, India, and Australia also make a large contribution, with a smaller but significant number of documents than other countries. Asian countries such as Malaysia and Hong Kong showed a strong presence in this category, reflecting the Asia-Pacific region's focus on safety in the context of business management and sustainability.

Figure 5 shows the distribution of documents related to Safety Performance by subject area, both as a whole and limited to Business, Management and Accounting category. Here is the explanation:

Figure 5. Documents by subject area.

In the graph on the left, which includes all documents related to Safety Performance, the field of engineering dominates, with a contribution of 25.3% of the total documents. Other fields that also made a significant contribution were medicine (15.0%), Computer Science (9.0%), and energy (5.5%). In addition, fields such as Social Sciences (4.9%) and environmental sciences (4.2%) also played an important role in this research. The dominance of the engineering field indicates that safety issues are generally rooted in technology and technical implementation in various industrial sectors.

Meanwhile, in the graph on the right, which focuses on the Business, Management and Accounting category, the Business, Management and Accounting fields are the most dominant, with a contribution of 39.8%. Engineering contributed 19.2%, reflecting the relationship between safety management and technical applications. Other fields, such as Decision Science (7.8%) and economics (5.2%), showed that research in this category also involves analytical and economic aspects. Fields such as Environmental Science and Psychology have made smaller contributions but remain relevant in understanding safety from a sustainability and behavioral perspective.

As a result of an analysis of the available literature, answers to the literature review questions were formulated based on the findings of previous research and the latest trends in Safety Performance. These answers provide in-depth insights into the key factors that affect shipping safety, challenges faced, and relevant solutions to implement. The results of the answers to the literature review questions are as follows.

6. Conclusion

The results of this study show that Safety Performance has become an increasingly important and relevant topic in various sectors and global contexts. The literature trend analysis shows a significant increase in the number of publications, especially after 2000, with research predominating in developed countries, such as the United States and China. Research in this field covers a wide range of disciplines such as engineering, management, health, and economics, and highlights the important contributions of Business, Management, and Accounting.

Previous research has identified four main factors that affect Safety Performance in the shipping industry: safety culture, navigation technology and systems, human factors, and regulations and compliance. A strong safety culture, support of modern technologies such as AIS and big data analytics, ongoing training, and compliance with international regulations all contribute to reducing accident risks and improving operational safety.

However, the implementation of Safety Performance measures is challenging. Lack of resources and funding, regulatory inconformities, low safety awareness, and reliance on legacy technologies are the main obstacles. To address this, the proposed solutions include strengthening safety culture, adopting modern technology, simulation-based training, and periodic inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Furthermore, Safety Performance not only improves safety but also creates a competitive advantage for shipping companies. With effective implementation, companies can improve their reputation, operational efficiency, and compliance with global sustainability standards, ultimately strengthening their positions in the international market.

Ethics approval statement

This study is a systematic literature review that utilizes only previously published and publicly available data. As it does not involve human participants, animals, or primary data collection, ethical approval was not required.