Tag: fatigue

Inmarsat joinlty with Shell Shipping and Maritime and Thetius announced the launch of a new ‘Open Innovation Challenge’ for start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which aims to identify technology for the benefit of crew safety, health and wellbeing at sea, at a moment when COVID-19 has exposed the welfare of seafarers to global scrutiny.

Sleep is an important function to a person's physical well-being, as well as the most effective weapon against the onset of fatigue. When we sleep, our brain signals our body to release hormones and important compounds. To achieve a healthy amount of sleep, an average adult should sleep for about seven to eight hours each night. A lack of sleep may cause significant changes in the body and increases the risk for serious health concerns.

Tiredness is a phenomenon to which all humans are prone and no one is exempt, especially in the workplace, but the magnitude of its consequences varies depending on the nature of the job. In shipping, which is characterized by long shift hours, falling asleep on the bridge could lead to extreme costs, environmental pollution or even fatalities.

In a detailed guidance, AMSA highlights the importance of providing adequate sources at a company level to manage the risks of fatigue. Duty scheduling and planning to control work and rest hours is one of the critical issues in managing fatigue.

In a detailed guidance, AMSA highlights the importance of keeping both seafarers and the company informed about any fatigue hazards in day-to-day operations. In this context, open communication and feedback on reports about fatigue related events are vital in improving fatigue management onboard.

Fatigue is a hazard that impacts safety, health and well-being. A long-term fatigue may result in health disorders (physical and mental), insidious onset, persists over time, multi-factor causes, significantly affects behavior and wellbeing. Considering the hectic work schedule of seafarers, fatigue can of course be a significant issue.

Alandia Marine insurance firm hosted an interview with Dr Claire Pekcan, Director at Safe Marine to shed attention once again on fatigue, which is a great concern for seafarers and the whole maritime community. There are things that seafarers can do for themselves to counteract fatigue, Dr Pekcan highlights and a Fatigue Self Help can help towards.

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB discussed about a small cargo vessel which grounded as the OOW on duty was watching music videos on his mobile phone and dod not observe the potential risk of grounding, when the vessel was set of the planned track by the tidal stream.

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.