Bob Couttie’s Maritime Accident Casebook

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Safety in the European Union, EU, is both improving, but getting worse, according to a review of 2007, the first annual review, by the European Maritime Safety Agency, EMSA.

On the upside, there were no tanker or cruise ship accidents, but the number and cost of accidents, which is eventually passed on to the consumer, is increasing at ‘an unprecedented rate’, says the report. The findings confirm predictions by the insurance industry and classification societies such as DNV.

From 2006 to 2007 the total number of accidents increased from 535, in 505 incidents, to 762, out of 715 incidents. Some seven out of 10 accidents occurred in the Atlantic and North Sea. Some 82 seafarers died in 2007, compared with 75 in 2006. Fatalities in the fishing industry accounted for 31 deaths, significantly down from 42 in 2006, while 20 were aboard general cargo ships and bulk carriers, up from 14 in 2006.

The ‘other vessel types’ category showed even higher increases, from 7 in 2006 to 18, which includes the Bourbon Dolphin tragedy. Four out of five incidents involved collisions and contacts, unchanged from 2006.

Groundings increased from 22 per cent in 2006 to 26 per cent in 2007. Fires an explosions also showed an increase, from 9 per cent in 2006 to 12 per cent last year.

Oil spills were a modest 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes and only a small amount hit European beaches but EMSA says: “deliberate spills are a significant concern, and EMSA is looking at this via its satellite monitoring service.

Download the EMSA Maritime Accident Review Here