THE CASUALTY rate for accidents in enclosed spaces on ships has almost doubled year-on-year, according to new data from InterManager.
The shipmanagement association submitted its latest accident statistics to the International Maritime Organization ahead of the 10th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments next week.
The stats suggest the number of accidents aboard ships is not decreasing.
InterManager analysed information from enclosed space accidents from as far back as 1996, fall accidents from 2012 until and accidents involving rescue and survival craft from 1980, all up until May 2024.
InterManager found the trend in enclosed-space accidents on an annual basis has actually stabilised over the past few years, however the number of casualties resulting from those accidents had risen from 18 in 2022 to 34 in 2023 (across 14 accidents for each of those years).
Of those who died in enclosed space accidents where the rank or role was stated, 66% were in leadership positions (master, chief engineer, chief officer or second engineer) and 6% were in training roles.
The trend in fall accidents was broadly consistent, with InterManager reporting between 44 and 42 accidents per year. Most of the casualties resulting from those accidents involved a single person.
Seafarers undertaking activities which involved working aloft or over the side of the ship experienced the highest number of accidents, at 55%. Those who are not ship officers or crew account for 22% of the fall accidents, with ship officers accounting for 23%.
And there is still potential for serious accidents in handling of lifeboats during drills and launching, according to InterManager.
Its data on rescue and survival craft accidents involves merchant ships, cruise ships, naval vessels, oil rigs, tugs and supply boats. Out of 538 incidents (including 50 near misses) gathered since 1980, only 19% are available in the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).
InterManager said there is “a significant lag” between accident occurrence, its investigation, and the report being uploaded into the Marine Casualties and Incidents module of the GISIS.
“It would be markedly beneficial to all analyses if this unwelcome lag could be decreased, or indeed eliminated,” the association said.
InterManager secretary general Kuba Szymanski said developing an effective safety culture is one of the central pillars of InterManager’s general principals of conduct and action.
“Collating these statistics on behalf of the industry enables us to proactively assist on a number of core safety issues and we are pleased that the IMO and other industry stakeholders are making use of them to protect the lives of seafarers,” he said.
