The Link Between Fatigue and Maritime Accidents: How Long Hours Lead to Injury

Fatigue and Maritime AccidentsMaritime workers are no strangers to long hours, physically demanding duties, and unpredictable schedules. From offshore oil rigs to cargo vessels, fatigue is often seen as just part of the job — but it shouldn’t be.

Fatigue isn’t just about feeling tired. It slows reaction time, clouds judgment, and increases the likelihood of costly — and even deadly — mistakes. In fact, studies have shown that fatigue can impair performance as much as alcohol. In high-risk environments like ships, barges, and drilling platforms, that level of impairment can lead to serious accidents.

In this post, we’ll break down how fatigue leads to maritime accidents, what employers are required to do to prevent it, and what legal protections are available if you’ve been injured while working long hours at sea.

What Causes Fatigue at Sea

Maritime fatigue isn’t caused by a single factor. It’s the result of several demanding conditions that often overlap:

  • Long or irregular shifts: Crews may work 12 hours or more, often during nights or rotating schedules.
  • Heavy physical workload: Repetitive tasks and manual labor wear down both body and mind.
  • Interrupted or poor-quality sleep: Noise, vibration, or shared quarters can prevent deep rest.
  • Mental stress and monotony: Isolation, high-stakes responsibilities, and long time at sea increase mental exhaustion.
  • Poor nutrition and hydration: Fatigue worsens when the body doesn’t get what it needs to recharge.

How Fatigue Undermines Safety

Fatigue affects the brain much like alcohol. It can impair:

  • Decision-making: Leading to mistakes in navigation, communication, and hazard recognition.
  • Reaction time: Slower responses in emergency or high-pressure situations.
  • Physical coordination: Making slips, trips, and equipment mishandling more likely.
  • Focus and attention: Causing workers to miss critical warnings or overlook safety steps.

Some studies show that working 17-19 hours without sleep can impair performance as much as a blood alcohol content of 0.05%, and beyond that, it’s equivalent to 0.1%, well above the legal limit for driving.

Common Fatigue-Related Maritime Accidents

Fatigue doesn’t just make maritime work harder, it makes it far more dangerous. When maritime workers are physically or mentally exhausted, even routine jobs can become dangerous. Here are some of the most common types of accidents linked to fatigue:

Navigation and Steering Errors

Fatigue slows decision-making and dulls concentration, a dangerous combination when piloting a vessel. Missed turns, delayed course corrections, or overlooked hazards can result in collisions or groundings.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Tired crew members are more likely to lose their footing on slick decks, misjudge steps on ladders, or fail to notice obstructions in walkways.

Equipment Mishandling

Operating cranes, winches, or engine controls requires alertness and coordination. Fatigued workers may forget safety procedures, misjudge timing, or lose control, causing injury to themselves or others.

Emergency Response Failures

In a crisis, crews must act fast. Fatigue can delay evacuation, confuse communication, and reduce the effectiveness of emergency drills or real-time responses.

Chemical or Fire Hazards

On oil rigs, tankers, and industrial vessels, one small oversight can escalate quickly. Exhausted workers may overlook leaks, forget shut-off protocols, or mishandle flammable materials.

These accidents are often preventable. When fatigue is a factor, the root cause may be poor scheduling, lack of breaks, or unsafe staffing policies, which could make the employer legally responsible.

Employer Responsibilities & Fatigue Prevention

Fatigue may be common in the maritime industry, but that doesn’t make it acceptable. Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers from preventable harm, and that includes managing fatigue through proper staffing, scheduling, and safety practices.

Maritime employers are responsible for creating a safe working environment, including:

  • Providing adequate crew rest: Employers must follow regulations around maximum work hours and required rest periods.
  • Preventing understaffing: Overloading crews with too many tasks or shifts increases the risk of fatigue-related incidents.
  • Monitoring worker wellness: Supervisors are expected to recognize signs of fatigue and take appropriate action.

Under the Jones Act, a fatigued or overworked employee injured as a result of poor employer practices may be entitled to compensation for negligence. Similarly, vessel owners may be liable under general maritime law if an exhausted or understaffed crew renders a ship unseaworthy.

Signs Fatigue Played a Role in Your Injury

If you’ve been injured on the job, it’s not always obvious whether fatigue was a factor, especially in high-pressure maritime environments where long hours are the norm. But there are some red flags that may suggest exhaustion contributed to your accident.

You Were Working an Extended Shift

If you were on duty for 12 hours or more — or had been working several consecutive days without proper rest — fatigue may have impacted your performance.

The Incident Occurred During a Night Shift

Accidents are more likely to happen between midnight and early morning, when the body’s natural alertness is lowest.

You Felt Foggy, Unfocused, or Sluggish

Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or slowed reaction time are all signs of fatigue.

You or Others Made Errors Leading Up to the Accident

Fatigued workers are more prone to mistakes like missed steps in procedures, incorrect equipment handling, or communication breakdowns.

There Was Pressure to Push Through

If supervisors discouraged breaks, ignored signs of overwork, or pushed crews to stay on task despite clear fatigue, that may point to negligence on the part of your employer.

Don’t Let Fatigue Be Dismissed. You Have Rights

Fatigue might be common in maritime work, but that doesn’t make it acceptable. When long hours, poor scheduling, or lack of rest put you in harm’s way, your employer may be responsible. And if you’ve been injured, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.

At Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC, our maritime attorneys understand how fatigue-related accidents happen and how to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’re here to listen, investigate, and advocate for you every step of the way.