The Silent Threat on the Waves: How Whole Body Vibrations Are Harming Maritime Workers

And the Tech Fighting Back

For sailors, coast guard crews, and offshore technicians, the ocean’s dangers aren’t limited to storms or collisions. A stealthier hazard lurks beneath their feet: whole body vibrations (WBV). These relentless, high-frequency shocks—generated by vessel speed, wave impacts, and hull design—are silently eroding the health of maritime workers. Chronic pain, spinal degeneration, and reduced operational performance are just the tip of the iceberg.

“You don’t notice it until your knees give out at 40,” says a retired U.S. Coast Guard veteran, one of many with irreversible lower-back damage linked to WBV exposure.

Research paints a grim picture. Icelandic sailors report knee and shoulder pain at twice the national average, while U.S. Coast Guard studies reveal 68% of small-boat crews require long-term medical treatment for vibration-related injuries. The worst-hit vessels? Crew transfer vehicles (CTVs), fast patrol boats, and small workboats—especially when carrying inexperienced passengers like wind turbine technicians. Without real-time monitoring, crews often exceed EU Directive 2002/44/EC safety limits (1.15 m/s² daily exposure) before symptoms appear.

The Algorithmic Lifeguard

Hefring Marine’s Intelligent Marine Assistance System (IMAS) is tackling WBV with the precision of a naval engineer and the foresight of a data scientist. This modular platform detects dangerous vibrations through motion sensors tracking vertical impacts, wave slamming, and frequency patterns. When thresholds like ISO 2631-1’s action value (0.5 m/s²) are breached, IMAS alerts operators to adjust speed or course—a critical intervention during high-risk transits.

“IMAS isn’t just a dashboard warning—it’s a cultural shift,” says a North Sea CTV captain. “We now compete to log the smoothest missions.”

Post-mission, the system generates reports benchmarking vibration exposure against regulatory standards and historical trips. This data helps companies redesign routes, modify hulls, or retrain crews. But the real innovation lies in adaptability: IMAS’s machine learning models improve with each voyage, turning rough seas into teachable moments.

As maritime industries push for faster, lighter vessels, WBV risks will escalate. Solutions like IMAS prove that protecting crews isn’t just about survival gear—it’s about listening to the hidden rhythms of the ocean.