Repeated whole-body vibration and shock exposure is known to cause chronic musculoskeletal injuries in crew. Maritime Systems recently released new sea trial results that, according to the company, show how its Vessel Impact and Motion Monitoring System (VIMMS) can help protect crew.
According to Maritime Systems, the results show that even on routine days in calm to moderate conditions, crew regularly exceed regulatory vibration action levels. Chronic injuries caused by vibration and low-level impacts develop gradually and are difficult to detect without long-term data.
VIMMS provides that data with a picture of both cumulative vibration levels and acute impacts by combining real-time acceleration monitoring and comprehensive vibration exposure analytics. Fatigue, stiffness and reduced concentration are symptoms reported by crew following rough transits, while chronic back injuries are a more long-term problem. Tenders and other smaller vessels can be a particular cause.
According to Maritime Systems, VIMMS allows operators to reduce chronic injury risks through long-term analysis while also preventing sudden acute impacts via real-time acceleration warnings. It’s also possible to optimize routes and vessel speeds.