Abstract
The present study analyses whether the stress and strain experienced by seafarers differ between the various occupational groups on board container ships. In a maritime field study, 323 sailors on 22 container ships were asked to complete a questionnaire and were biometrically surveyed. In addition, a survey of energy expenditure and heart rate (variability) was carried out with the SenseWear® armband monitor and the Polar RS800 watch, respectively. The activity data objectively collected by the armband monitor showed an average sleep duration of 5.0 h per day, with particularly short sleep episodes amongst nautical officers. This occupational group also significantly more frequently reported sleep deficits (67%). The highest work-related energy expenditure per day was among the deck ratings (801 kcal), followed by the engine room personnel (777 kcal), and finally the nautical officers (568 kcal). The last-mentioned group, who were also the most likely to experience mental stress in the workplace, had the lowest heart rate variability compared to the other occupational groups. The average working time was the only stress parameter that correlated significantly negatively with the heart rate variability (r = −0.387; p = 0.002). Overall, job-related stressors of seafarers on board should be objectified in further studies and occupational group-specific health promotion programmes should be developed.
Highlights
The largest occupational group on board a ship is the deck crew, which is made up of nautical officers and deck ratings
The exposure of the technical officers and the ratings working in the engine room are very similar, so that these can be summarized as engine room personnel
Physical or mental stress on board the current ship was reported by around 65% of the respondents in the total study sample
Summary
The largest occupational group on board a ship is the deck crew, which is made up of nautical officers and deck ratings. The nautical officers, including the captain, are responsible for, among other things, navigation, planning and organization of the loading and unloading operations and for the ship’s command [1]. They have a high level of responsibility for personnel and material. It should be noted that technical officers are stressed by their higher level of responsibility, especially when the engine alarm is triggered Another specificity of this group is that the engine room personnel are normally employed in a day shift system and, in contrast to deck crews, are generally not subjected to a watch system [3]. Maintenance and repairs in the engine room are often carried out jointly by the technical officers and the engine room ratings
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