NTSB issued an investigation report on the collision of the towing vessel Dixie Vandal with the moored towing vessel Trinity and Tow in Houston Ship Channel, in March 2019, identifying fatigue as key cause.
UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the grounding of the fishing vessel Coelleira off Scotland, in August 2019. The report highlighted that the passage was not properly planned and the vessel’s position was not being closely monitored.
The NTSB issued an investigation report on the grounding of the fishing vessel Freyja while on the Bering Sea, Alaska, in March 2019. The investigation revealed the deckhand failed to monitor the vessel as he fell asleep due to extreme fatigue.
In its latest issue, CHIRP discusses the issue of fatigue, after receiving a report from a seafarer working in the harbour towage sector about the working and rest hours and the feeling of fatigue received from their co-workers.
Not all people are the same and subsequently, their body does not respond to fatigue at the same way. That means, individuals may become fatigued at different times and to different degrees of severity, under same circumstances.
Fatigue has been a much discussed issue linked to the nature of seafaring, which can have serious consequences not only for the safety and health of seafarers, but even operational safety and the marine environment. In this regard, AMSA issued guidelines to address fatigue for Australian and foreign flagged vessels.
ITF and ETF called upon ship operators to return lashing to shore based dock workers. The demands placed on seafarers by ship operators does not take into account the requirements for hours of rest, the unions argue. The renewed call came after a recent incident involving the container vessel OOCL Rauma.
Over the past few years, several of the Shipowners Club’s loss prevention initiatives have identified sleepiness and long-term fatigue as a major factor impacting accidents at sea. In order to understand this causation factor furthermore, the Club has collaborated with Sleep and Fatigue Research Ltd (Safr) on a project to investigate whether wearable technology can be used in the marine environment to address this risk.
This time, our special column, in association with The North of England P&I Club, sheds light on crew health. Health is the most important thing for anyone, let alone seafarers due to their challenging job. Rest hours, working out, food, better accommodation and mental health, are all key elements towards ensuring a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, we asked maritime experts to make their assessment whether the industry has taken significant action towards
To enjoy a good quality of life, we must ensure that we are healthy and strong. Health is wealth; when we prefer making healthy choices, these become habits and part of our daily life and in turn, the benefits are many. A healthy lifestyle can make a big difference and therefore, putting physical fitness and a healthy diet on top is vital.
