I am an Associate Professor at the department of mechanical engineering and maritime studies at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. I advocate for a transformative approach to safety management, viewing human skill and adaptability as crucial assets in bridging gaps within technology, processes, and information in contemporary work systems. With extensive experience as a deck officer on LPG tankers and a PhD in nautical operations, my expertise is backed by both practical and academic insights.My sentiment is well reflected by a quote from the Marine Accident Report on Fire on Board STENA SCANDICA, published by DMAIB:"For many years, accident investigation focused on the shortcomings in human performance as a safety-critical issue. The fire and blackout on STENA SCANDICA highlight the opposite: human skill and adaptability can remedy failures and shortcomings of the ships’ systems. This occurs on a daily basis during normal ship operation on a small scale and goes unnoticed. When a major system failure occurs, such as the power supply failure on STENA SCANDICA, where none of the ship’s systems are operational, including the emergency system, it becomes apparent that crew members’ adaptive capacities in emergency situations are essential for ensuring the safety of the ship."