Recent research by the New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) has shown fatigue at sea to be of concern, with half of those seafarers surveyed reporting being fatigued on at least on one of their last five trips. Fatigue has also been a causal factor in several recent vessel groundings. An MSA-led working group is now working with the industry to provide guidelines and policy for owners, operators and employees to better manage fatigue. Each commercial maritime sector is being tackled one-by-one, and the fishing industry is first up. The guidelines will include practical methods for managing fatigue, and will be used as a basis for fatigue management training and education.
