open access

Vol 66, No 4 (2015)
Original article
Submitted: 2015-12-22
Accepted: 2015-12-22
Published online: 2015-12-22
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The influence of vessel movements on the energy expenditure of fishermen in relation to activities and occupational tasks on board

Tomas Breidahl, Michael Christensen, Jørgen Riis Jepsen, Øyvind Omland
DOI: 10.5603/IMH.2015.0039
·
Pubmed: 26726889
·
IMH 2015;66(4):196-202.

open access

Vol 66, No 4 (2015)
MARITIME MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2015-12-22
Accepted: 2015-12-22
Published online: 2015-12-22

Abstract

Background: Previous studies of professional fishing activities have indicated that vessel movements correlate to fishermen’s energy expenditure. We have previously demonstrated that even in calm weather, the heel and pitch significantly increase the fishermen’s energy expenditure, ignoring the activities carried out on board. This continuation of the study goes further by exploring the relation between the exposure to the ship’s movements and the fishermen’s energy expenditure during various physical activities on board.

Materials and methods: Four fishermen on 2 contemporary steel trawlers recorded their work activities on an hourly basis during a 4 days fishing voyage. The energy expenditure was estimated with a body monitoring system (SenseWear Pro 3) carried as an armband, placed on the right upper arm. The vessels’ movements were assessed by a gyroscope placed in the wheelhouse. The additional energy expenditure relative to the energy expenditure during sleep was recorded during activities such as navigation, fishing, and machine handling and was correlated to the vessels’ recorded movements (pitch/roll). Data were analysed by linear regression.

Results: Roll and pitch were less than 10o for both vessels during the voyages. The fishermen’s energy expenditure differed with the tasks undertaken and correlated with the vessels’ movements, but for navigation and fishing the correlation was only significant in the highest — fourth quartile of — pitch/roll.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that vessel’s movements in calm weather increase the energy expenditure during navigation, fishing, and machine handling and that the relation differs in between these activities on board and rest.  

Abstract

Background: Previous studies of professional fishing activities have indicated that vessel movements correlate to fishermen’s energy expenditure. We have previously demonstrated that even in calm weather, the heel and pitch significantly increase the fishermen’s energy expenditure, ignoring the activities carried out on board. This continuation of the study goes further by exploring the relation between the exposure to the ship’s movements and the fishermen’s energy expenditure during various physical activities on board.

Materials and methods: Four fishermen on 2 contemporary steel trawlers recorded their work activities on an hourly basis during a 4 days fishing voyage. The energy expenditure was estimated with a body monitoring system (SenseWear Pro 3) carried as an armband, placed on the right upper arm. The vessels’ movements were assessed by a gyroscope placed in the wheelhouse. The additional energy expenditure relative to the energy expenditure during sleep was recorded during activities such as navigation, fishing, and machine handling and was correlated to the vessels’ recorded movements (pitch/roll). Data were analysed by linear regression.

Results: Roll and pitch were less than 10o for both vessels during the voyages. The fishermen’s energy expenditure differed with the tasks undertaken and correlated with the vessels’ movements, but for navigation and fishing the correlation was only significant in the highest — fourth quartile of — pitch/roll.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that vessel’s movements in calm weather increase the energy expenditure during navigation, fishing, and machine handling and that the relation differs in between these activities on board and rest.  

Get Citation

Keywords

calm weather, fishing, energy expenditure, occupational tasks, vessel movements

About this article
Title

The influence of vessel movements on the energy expenditure of fishermen in relation to activities and occupational tasks on board

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 66, No 4 (2015)

Article type

Original article

Pages

196-202

Published online

2015-12-22

Page views

1106

Article views/downloads

1023

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2015.0039

Pubmed

26726889

Bibliographic record

IMH 2015;66(4):196-202.

Keywords

calm weather
fishing
energy expenditure
occupational tasks
vessel movements

Authors

Tomas Breidahl
Michael Christensen
Jørgen Riis Jepsen
Øyvind Omland

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