Human Performance and Limitation for Mariners

The Nautical Institute’s book, Human Performance and Limitation for Mariners, (HPL) builds on a concept first introduced in the aviation industry that was responsible for a massive reduction in accidents. This concept will enable seafarers to make the best use of their physical and mental abilities in the challenging shipboard environment.

The Maritime industry has two major differences from other industries.  “First, on vessels mariners are subjected to different motions and effects such as noise, heat, and vibration. The second, and more significant difference that this book describes, is the ship is home for maritime professionals for many months at a time. There are challenges to life onboard, including living in a multicultural environment.”

One of these challenges is fatigue, which is often implicated in casualty reports, this book introduces the concept to seafarers so that they can understand their own limitations and make the best use of their physical and mental abilities in the challenging shipboard environment.

These insights will help to protect mariners and ensure that they are able to contribute effectively to the special team that is the ship’s crew,

There are practical examples of HPL in the book, from explaining the effects of fatigue to the time it takes eyes to adjust to the change from light to dark – particularly crucial for reading the bright displays on bridges.

All crew members have a part to play in the safety and commercial success of their vessels. Crews are responsible for the lives of all those onboard, for millions of dollars of company assets in the form of the ship itself, hundreds of millions of dollars in cargo value and billions of dollars in terms of liabilities and environmental impact.

The Nautical Institute feels that happy, healthy, well-trained and motivated seafarers will ensure the safe conduct of ships and the safe and timely arrival of the world’s cargoes. All mariners need to be aware of how to protect themselves physically and mentally and to make the best use of their physical and mental abilities to manage modern ships in what is an increasingly complex and dynamic maritime environment.

Those who are responsible for the design, management and operation of ships and their systems must also take account of seafarers’ capabilities, skills, limitations and needs. This book looks at the realities of living and working onboard and explains how recognizing human limitations can improve performance, safety and job satisfaction.

Practical guidance is given on how the mind works; fatigue, workload and stress; building competency and confidence; and cultural understanding. For those at sea and for owners and managers ashore it makes sense that seafarers are enabled to follow a healthy way of life and are educated to do so.

SKU: P40018