Three simulator-equipped institutes collaborated to ensure that enough runs of sufficient duration were undertaken to replicate ship-board conditions of operation, with real-life scenarios of voyage, workload and interruptions. Specialist input from a stress research institute, skilled in transport operations research, set the requirements for fatigue measurement and determining performance degradation of watch-keepers. Results were analysed and recommendations made for application by interested parties, including ship owners, maritime regulators and those setting requirements for manning and operation of ships. The project output is a management toolkit with software and guidance notes.

Involvement of a classification society, seafarer officer's union and six stakeholder partners provided expert objectivity of the project and its results, as well as widening routes for dissemination and exploitation.

HORIZON surpassed past subjective fatigue studies, highlighting the problem, and produced validated, statistically robust results for use in decision making. The project resulted in: (i) increased safety and security, (ii) reduced fatalities, and (iii) a methodology for reducing human error.