Determination of fatigue and sleep states of watchkeeping officers with help EEG and bridge simulator

Today, the seafarers' working time is also increased with the increasing speeds of ships in parallel with an increase in world maritime trade. It is well know that accidents due to human error increased, because of seafarer?s intense and stressful working condition.In this study, watchkeeping officers' states of sleep and fatigue were examined during their work and rest hours on short sea voyage.The EEG data obtained from watchkeeping officers were evaluated within the scenarios prepared in a full bridge simulator system. Electroencephalography and polysomnography techniques, AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) sleep scoring criteria and checklists of scenario were used in experiments.The relationship between officers's errors and tendency to fall asleep emerged during the navigation watch were determined with the study. As a result of this study, it is found that excessive working hours and intense work with sleeplessness and fatigue increases the officers' error rates. At the same time, the error rate increased were observed in the last hours of navigation watch.