title: What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Effects of alcohol on the performance of ship operators.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to specify the effects of alcohol on the performance of ship operators as a contribution to the development of new strategies against the risks of alcohol in water traffic. The nautical performance of 21 captains before and after alcohol consumption was assessed on a ship piloting simulator. The simulated scenarios represented passages of a container vessel through the German Bight. Performance was examined by nautical instructors according to standardised protocols. Mean (S.D.) blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.100 (0.024) g/dl before and 0.100 (0.017) g/dl after the performance trial resulted in striking effects on the nautical performance. The categories most severely affected were foresight and analysis of situation (impairment in 18 of 21 cases), concentration (impairment in 16 of 21 cases), accurateness, risk disposition and navigation (impairment in 15 of 21 cases). Chart work, preparation and communication were impaired in 12, 11 and 10 of 21 cases, respectively. None of the participants were capable to operate the simulated ship with an adequate safety after ingestion of alcohol. From these findings, and in consideration of the well-established impairment of a multitude of mental and physical functions by alcohol, it can be concluded that even low BACs bear high risks in water traffic, a concentration above 0.1 g/dl will hinder a sufficiently safe performance of ship operators. This should be considered in alcohol education and legislation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, im Uniklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 12, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. ritz-timme@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritz-Timme
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.forename: Geertje
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grütters
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grütters
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reichelt
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilzer
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kaatsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009790:Occupations; D012767:Ships; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol