A latent risk factor analysis guiding policy interventions for inland maritime safety
Abstract
Inland waterway safety is a pressing policy priority in China's transport sector, where effective regulation and targeted interventions are vital to managing accident risks in the world's busiest inland shipping network. While policymakers have increasingly focused on this issue, the causal mechanisms shaping accident severity remain insufficiently understood. This study applies Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to quantify the influence of four latent constructs, Ship Characteristics, Environmental Conditions, Operational Risk, and Crew & Equipment, on inland maritime accident outcomes. Constructs were validated through principal component analysis, and the model achieved excellent fit (χ2
Fields of Study & Subjects
Maritime Navigation and Safety
Occupational Health and Safety Research
Risk and Safety Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Transport Policy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 180
- Pages
- 104057–104057
- Publication date
- 3 February 2026
- Language
- EN