Effects of Motion at Sea on Crew Performance: A Survey

Current efforts to minimize ship crews now more than ever require all persons on board to be fully functional and capable of conducting their prescribed duties and responsibilities. However, inherent in the nature of any maritime profession, ships and, therefore, people are exposed to a multitude of motions as a result of weather and sea conditions. Coincident with these motions are a host of physiological, biomechanical, and psychological responses that can quickly reduce even the best efforts of the crew to a fraction of their utility when performed on a stable platform. Ship motions limit a crew's ability to perform essential command, control, and communications functions, navigation tasks, maintenance responsibilities, and even the preparation of food. Additionally, and more importantly, emergency situations may become more threatening in a situation where only a portion of the crew is able to respond effectively. This survey is intended to provide a working knowledge of effects of ship motions on crew performance, fatigue, and motivation. This information can then be used to improve ship and equipment design, and lead to enhanced vessel effectiveness and performance and, more importantly, to enhanced safety of the individuals on board. As ship design evolves and crew sizes decrease, greateremphasis must be placed upon the human factor input in order to ensure safety and efficiency during both routine and emergency operations.