A study in response to the increased evidence of the role of fatigue and sleepiness
Project Horizon is a major multi-partner European research study that brought together 11 academic institutions and shipping industry organisations with the agreed aim of delivering emprical data to provide a bettter understanding of the way in which watchkeeping patterns can affect the sleepiness levels of ships’ watchkeepers.
- Read theProject Horizon Research Report 2012 outlined in the excerpts below
- Find out more about Project Horizon
- View the video that includes the initial findings
Reason for research
Project Horizon was established in response to growing concern about the increased evidence of the role of fatigue and sleepiness in maritime accidents. It is also closely aligned to the FP7 (Sustainable Surface Transport 2008 RTD-1 call) aims of increased safety and security, and reduced fatalities.
The increasingly intensive nature of shipping operations means that seafarers frequently work long and irregular hours. Factors such as noise, vibration, sailing patterns, port calls, cargo handling and other activities can all reduce the ability of seafarers to gain quality sleep during their rest periods.
The project was established to:
- define and undertake scientific methods for measurement of fatigue in various realistic seagoing scenarios using bridge, engineroom and cargo simulators
- determine the effects of watch systems and components of watch systems on fatigue
- capture empirical data on the cognitive performance of watchkeepers working within those realistic scenarios
- assess the impact of fatigue on decision-making performance
- develop a tool for evaluating potential fatigue risk of different watch systems using mathematical models
- determine arrangements for minimising risks to ships and their cargoes, seafarers, passengers and the marine environment
For more information, click here.
Source: Nautilus International
