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Port Skills and Safety (PSS) and Scottish tech company COMET have joined forces to launch a new initiative aimed at enhancing safety standards and leveraging data intelligence across the UK port industry. This collaboration combines PSS’s extensive industry expertise with COMET’s cutting-edge software and port services to deliver tailored, practical solutions that address the distinct challenges faced by ports and their supply chains.
As part of this initiative, PSS members will have free access to COMET’s Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis platform. This innovative tool is designed to provide both precision and proportionality when handling incidents, from minor slips to significant safety events and non-conformances. Members will also benefit from other resources, such as HSE Culture Assessments and Behavioural Training Programmes, all aimed at driving measurable improvements in safety and operational practices.
PSS, which represents over 120 ports, services, and training providers across the UK, is committed to making the port sector one of the safest industries to work in. CEO Debbie Cavaldoro explained:
“This collaboration with COMET isn’t just about supporting individual ports—it’s about improving the entire industry. By working together and sharing data and insights, we will create a powerful ecosystem of safety and operational excellence. We exist to make ports safer and want the port sector to become one of the safest places to work; this project supports that mission.”
COMET’s CEO, Mark Rushton, also highlighted the importance of data-driven insights in improving safety:
“At the heart of this initiative is the opportunity to leverage the volume, quality, and usefulness of the data and insights generated from deploying these solutions. Every product and service in this suite is designed to improve skills, standards, or safety. Importantly, each element creates data that can be transformed into actionable insights, adding significant value to PSS members and help drive the port industry forward.”
A Step Forward in Innovation
This initiative builds on the success of a pilot programme conducted by PSS and COMET, which explored the use of AI in root cause analysis for port operations. The pilot analysed data from various port groups, including reports from first responders, investigations, and safety observations, to identify recurring root causes across the sector.
The project underscored the need for better-quality data to fully harness the potential of AI. PSS is now encouraging ports to participate more actively and to prioritise retaining data from observations, near misses, and incidents to realise the full benefits of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analysis in improving industry-wide safety.
For more information about this initiative or to join, visit https://www.portskillsandsafety.co.uk/ or https://www.cometanalysis.com/pss-exclusive-support.