Individual coping skills used to manage fatigue

Respondents were asked to state the fatigue coping skills that they generally used while out at sea. The highest percentages captured were caffeine (57%), and looking out for each other (53%); and the lowest percentages were smoking (9%), prescription drugs (3%) and non-prescription drugs (3%). Coping skills are not considered to be effective fatigue countermeasures (getting on with work (49%) and neither is self-monitoring (46%)) which were chosen by nearly half of all respondents.  The reason for this is research has shown that individuals are poor judges of their performance when fatigued. Further education and awareness that presents effective and coping mechanisms, is needed (Table 7 and Figure 16).

Table 7: Fatigue coping skills frequency count and percentages of total
Fatigue coping skills Frequency Percentage
Get on with work regardless 459 49%
Self-monitoring 433 46%
Taking power naps 316 34%
Caffeine (e.g. energy drinks, coffee) 538 57%
Crew looking out for each other 499 53%
Taking short breaks while on duty 348 37%
Smoking 85 9%
Prescribed medication 26 3%
Non-prescribed medication 26 3%
Other 44 5%
No response 85 9%

Figure 16. How do you generally cope with fatigue at sea (select all that apply)?
Figure 16. How do you generally cope with fatigue at sea (select all that apply)?

Fatigue management training and information

Respondents were asked if they had received any fatigue management information, guidance, or training. 50% (513) of respondents indicated that they had either not received any fatigue management training or guidance or were unsure. These statistics indicate that more education and awareness material on fatigue management is needed (Table 8).

Table 8: Fatigue management information, guidance or training frequency count and percentages of total
Fatigue management information, guidance or training Frequency Percentage
Yes 456 45%
No 442 43%
Unsure 71 7%
No response 55 5%
Total 1024  

Figure 17. Fatigue management information, guidance, or training frequency count
Figure 17. Fatigue management information, guidance, or training frequency count

Fatigue management approaches

Respondents were asked to identify the fatigue management approaches that owners/operators of their vessels have in place. As per Table 9 and Figure 18 the highest percentages selected included good practise approaches to fatigue management as per the fatigue/sleep literature (i.e., Encourage the crew to look out for each other (50%), fatigue management policy and procedures (46%) and incorporating standard work hours and schedule (43%)). 

Other management approaches such as allowing the crew to stop work when unable to stay awake (28%), scheduled rest breaks (30%), navigational watch alarms (30%), encouraging fatigue reporting (24%) and increasing crew numbers (12%) were not as widely selected. Further exploration into the drivers behind why these management approaches were not as widely used will allow for better guidance to be developed to support this area. 

Table 9: Approaches to manage fatigue frequency count and percentages of total
Approaches to manage fatigue Frequency Percentage
Standard working hours/work schedule 404 43%
Encourage crew to look out for each other 461 50%
Crew allowed to stop work – rest or sleep if unable to stay awake 262 28%
Use watchkeeping/navigational watch alarms 280 30%
Scheduled rest breaks 285 30%
Fatigue management policy/procedure 429 46%
Encourage reporting of fatigue 227 24%
Access to adequate rest facilities  145 16%
Increase crewing numbers 108 12%
None/self-managed 63 7%
No response 99 10%

Figure 18. What are the approaches your owner/operator have taken to manage fatigue (select all that apply)?
Figure 18. What are the approaches your owner/operator have taken to manage fatigue (select all that apply)?