ABSTRACT
Mounting concern with seafarer fatigue is widely evident among maritime regulators, insurers, ship owners, trade unions and welfare agencies. We are carrying out a research programme to investigate this topic and the first phase of the research was concerned with specific comparisons between offshore oil support shipping and the offshore oil industry. The overall objectives of the research are: to predict worst case scenarios for fatigue, health and injury; develop best practice recommendations appropriate to ship type and trade; and produce advice packages for seafarers, regulators and policy makers. This topic has been investigated using a variety of techniques to explore variations in fatigue and health as a function of the voyage cycle, crew composition, watch keeping patterns and the working environment. The methods involve:
• A review of the literature • A questionnaire survey of working and rest hours, physical and mental health • Physiological assays assessing fatigue, rhythm adjustment and cardiovascular risk • Instrument recordings of sleep quality, ship motion, and noise
• Self-report diaries recording sleep quality and work patterns • Objective assessments and subjective ratings of mental functioning • Analysis of accident and injury data
A detailed account of the project is given in Smith, Lane and Bloor (2001).
