Sleep, circadian rhythm, and maritime safety: The Titanic disaster revisited

The lookouts on the Titanic were likely affected by sleep loss and circadian misalignment due to a demanding duty schedule.

• Lookouts worked five consecutive night shifts with only four hours between duties for personal needs.
• The duty rotation for lookouts was two hours on watch followed by four hours off.
• The Officer of the Watch had longer off-duty periods, but these were often interrupted by additional tasks.
• This duty pattern may have contributed to sleep restriction, poor sleep quality, and circadian disruption.
• Fatigue and sleepiness are significant factors in accidents in contemporary maritime operations.

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