Fatigue in maritime transport

Abstract

The maritime system operates non-stop, by the workers who operate, sleep, eat and live 24/7 in noisy, dynamic and stressful environment. Irregular and extended shifts are not unusual for the workers aboard. The final result of the extended shifts is fatigue, represented by the symptoms such as drowsiness, irritability, reduced alertness, lack of concentration and memory, depression and headaches. Lack of sleep or rest can impair the cognitive skills, slows down the reaction times and makes it difficult to concentrate. Proving fatigue as the cause of the maritime accident can be a challenging task. So, the method of investigation the fatigue in the terms of maritime transport has to be used. This paper provides a recommendation for the process of investigation and assessing of the causal factors, such as human factor, especially the fatigue. The preventive measures how to avoid the fatigue aboard the vessel are also given.