ACCIDENTS onboard ships are not decreasing, according to the latest statistics submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by the International Ship Managers Association (InterManager).
The number of seafarers injured in falls has remained fairly consistent year on year, as has the number of injuries resulting from rescue and survival craft accidents. However, the casualty rate for enclosed space accidents has almost doubled, InterManager warned.
InterManager submitted its figures, which span several decades, to the 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments, taking place from July 22-26, 2024, in London.
The report provides information and analysis in support of its information documents on enclosed space accidents (ranging from 1996 to May 1, 2024), fall accidents (from 2012 to May 1, 2024), and accidents involving rescue and survival craft (from 1980 to May 1, 2024).
InterManager used a variety of verified data feeds to obtain this information on accidents onboard ships. The association said there remains a significant lag between accident occurrence, its investigation and the report being uploaded into the Marine Casualties and Incidents module of the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS).
InterManager said, “It would be markedly beneficial to all analyses if this unwelcome lag could be decreased, or indeed eliminated.”
Industry statistics are undermined due to a lack of transparency and hesitation in sharing accidents. This is causing problems with accident reporting.
InterManager said a number of accidents involving falls onboard ships are not being recorded within GISIS, although these accidents are openly reported and recorded on ship-type-specific websites and within regional media. It added there have been a number of enclosed space accidents in ship repair yards, which are not required to report to GISIS.
InterManager said there was a marked increase in the number of casualties in 2023 at 34, compared to 18 in 2022. Although the frequency of accidents remained fairly constant, the casualty rate almost doubled.
The report also revealed that fall accidents from, or onboard, ships in the past five years have remained consistent between 44 and 52 accidents per year. Between Jan. 1 and May 1, 2024, 18 accidents were recorded within the GISIS.
The percentage of fall accidents, when analyzed by ship type, remained broadly constant throughout the review period of 2012to 1 May 2024, as compared to InterManager’s previous submission.
Likewise, the location of the fall accidents remained consistent between the two review periods. It would appear, therefore, that the industry is experiencing a similar frequency of fall accidents in similar locations year after year.
InterManager’s data in relation to accidents associated with rescue and survival craft onboard ships involves all kinds of merchant ships, cruise ships, naval vessels, oil rigs, tugs, and supply boats with IMO numbers. Out of 538 incidents (including 50 near misses) gathered since 1980, only 19 percent are available in GISIS.
The InterManager report also stated that there is still a potential for serious accidents in the handling of lifeboats during drills and launching. InterManager acknowledged the efforts of the IMO to prevent lifeboat accidents by reviewing resolution MSC.81(70) on the Revised Recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances and the adoption of resolution MSC.544(107) in June 2023 on the amendments to the Revised Recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances [Resolution MSC.81(70)] which includes all types of lifeboats on board ships.
InterManager proposed that categories of specific operations — such as enclosed space, fall, personal transfer, lifeboat, mooring and others — be included in the data collection database of accidents by GISIS, Flag States, and other industry organizations, including shipping companies. This will assist regulators to review procedures, improve safety and minimize accidents.
Capt. Kuba Szymanski, InterManager secretary general, said: “Safety is very important to InterManager members and developing an effective safety culture is one of the central pillars of our General Principles 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.”
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