Ship accident statistics show consistently high fall injuries and increase in casualties in enclosed spaces

According to the latest accident statistics presented by InterManager of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the number of shipping accidents is not decreasing.

The number of seafarers injured by falls has remained relatively constant from year to year, as has the number of injuries from accidents involving lifeboats and survival craft. However, the number of victims in accidents in enclosed spaces has almost doubled, the association warns.

InterManager has submitted its figures, which span several decades, to the 10th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on the Implementation of IMO Instruments, which will be held in London from 22 to 26 July. The association’s submission contains information and analysis to support InterManager’s briefing documents on accidents in enclosed spaces (period 1996 to 1 May 2024), falls from heights (period 2012 to 1 May 2024) and accidents involving rescue and survival craft (period 1980 to 1 May 2024).

InterManager said it used a variety of verified data feeds to obtain this information on accidents on board ships. The association points out that there is still a significant delay between the accident event, its investigation and the uploading of the report into the Marine Casualties and Incidents (MCI) module of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).

InterManager said it would be of significant benefit to all analytics if this “unwelcome delay could be reduced or even eliminated.”

Industry statistics are undermined by a lack of transparency and reluctance to share accidents. This leads to problems with accident reporting. InterManager’s statement points out that a number of accidents involving falls on board ships are not recorded in GISIS or made available elsewhere, despite these accidents being openly reported and recorded on ship type specific websites and in regional media. It also points out that there have been a number of accidents in enclosed spaces in ship repair yards that are not currently required to be reported to GISIS.

Accidents in enclosed spaces

• The trend in the number of annual accidents in enclosed spaces has stabilized in recent years, with a significant decrease during the global pandemic in 2021. However, comparing 2022 and 2023, in which 14 incidents in enclosed spaces were recorded each year, the number of actual victims in 2023 has increased significantly compared to 2022, namely 34 versus 18. So, although the frequency of accidents has remained fairly constant, the number of victims has almost doubled.

• Of those who have lost their lives in enclosed space accidents where rank or function was specified, 66 percent are currently members of the ship’s senior management team (statistically, the ship’s senior management team consists of the captain, chief engineer, chief officer and second engineer). A further six percent of those who lost their lives served on board the ship in a training capacity, which is statistically similarly defined as a cadet or trainee.

Falling accidents

• The trend in falls from or on board ships has remained constant over the last five years, ranging between 44 and 52 accidents per year. The majority of casualties resulting from these accidents involved only one person. Between 1 January and 1 May 2024, 18 accidents were recorded in GISIS.

• The percentage of fall accidents, when analysed by vessel type, remained broadly constant throughout the review period from 2012 to 1 May 2024 compared to InterManager’s previous submission (Document III 9/INF.12). The location of reported fall accidents also remained the same between the two review periods. It therefore appears that the industry experiences a similar frequency of fall accidents in similar locations year after year.

• Where mentioned in the accident investigation report, seafarers who are directly involved in carrying out the majority of activities that involve working at height or over the ship’s side suffer the most accidents, at 55 percent. Those who are not ship’s officers or crew members account for 22 percent of fall accidents, while ship’s officers account for the remaining 23 percent.

Accidents involving rescue and survival vehicles

• InterManager’s data on accidents involving rescue and survival craft on board ships cover all types of merchant ships, cruise ships, warships, oil rigs, tugs and supply boats with IMO numbers. Of the 538 incidents (including 50 near misses) recorded since 1980, only 19 percent are available in GISIS.

• There is still a risk of major accidents when handling lifeboats during drills and launching. InterManager recognizes IMO’s ongoing efforts to prevent lifeboat accidents by reviewing Resolution MSC.81(70) on the revised Recommendation on the testing of life-saving appliances and adopting Resolution MSC.544(107) on 8 June 2023 on the amendments to the revised Recommendation on the testing of life-saving appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)), which covers all types of lifeboats on board ships. InterManager recommends that categories of specific operations – such as enclosed spaces, falls, personnel transfer, lifeboats, mooring and others – be included in the accident data collection database of GISIS, flag states and other industry organizations, including shipping companies. This will help regulators review procedures, improve safety and minimize accidents.