Posted: May 1st, 2024

Research on Marine Accidents

Research on Marine Accidents

Marine accidents are incidents that occur at sea and cause damage to ships, cargo, environment or human life. They can have serious consequences for the marine ecosystem, the economy and the society. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and prevention of marine accidents and to improve the safety of maritime transportation.

Causes of Marine Accidents

According to a study by the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC), the most common types of marine accidents are collision, close quarters and contact; grounding; fire and explosion; lifeboat accidents; and other accidents such as falling overboard, machinery failure, structural failure and cargo shifting . The study analysed 700 accident investigation reports from 30 countries in the period 2002-2016 and identified the immediate and contributory causes of different types of accidents.

Collision, close quarters and contact accidents are those that involve two or more vessels or a vessel and a fixed or floating object. The study found that the most frequent immediate cause of these accidents was poor situational awareness (31.8%), followed by inadequate lookout (17.4%), poor judgment (16.5%), technical failure (10.9%) and fatigue (8.7%). The most common contributory causes were communication problems (28.9%), inadequate bridge procedures (25.6%), lack of training (18.9%), poor weather conditions (15%) and equipment problems (14.4%) .

Grounding accidents are those that occur when a vessel runs aground on rocks, reefs, sandbanks or other submerged objects. The study found that the most frequent immediate cause of these accidents was navigational error (40.7%). It was also identified as a contributory cause in 24.6% of cases. Other immediate causes of grounding were found to be: inadequate lookout (11.9%); poor judgment (11%); fatigue (9.3%); and technical failure (8.5%). Third party causes of grounding such as pilot error/mishandling were identified in 6.8% of cases .

Fire and explosion accidents are those that involve combustion or detonation of flammable substances on board a vessel. The study found that the most frequent immediate cause of these accidents was fuel leakage (23%), followed by electrical fault (19%), hot work (15%), smoking (12%) and cooking (10%). The most common contributory causes were poor maintenance (32%), lack of fire detection or suppression systems (25%), inadequate fire drills or training (23%), poor housekeeping (20%) and human error (18%) .

Lifeboat accidents are those that involve injuries or fatalities during lifeboat drills or emergencies. The study found that the most frequent contributory cause of these accidents was equipment failure (49%), followed by human error (35%), lack of training (28%), poor maintenance (27%) and inadequate procedures (25%) .

Other accidents are those that do not fall into any of the above categories. The study found that the most frequent immediate cause of these accidents was human error (40%), followed by technical failure (24%), environmental factors (14%), structural failure (10%) and cargo shifting (7%). The most common contributory causes were lack of training (32%), poor maintenance (29%), inadequate procedures (26%), communication problems (25%) and fatigue (23%) .

Prevention of Marine Accidents

The analysis of the causes of marine accidents reveals that human error is a major factor in most types of accidents, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, it is essential to address the human element in maritime safety and to implement measures to reduce human error and its consequences.

Some of the measures that can be taken to prevent marine accidents are:

– Enhancing the situational awareness of seafarers by providing them with adequate information, equipment, training and supervision.
– Improving the communication and coordination among seafarers, between seafarers and shore-based personnel, and between vessels.
– Establishing and enforcing clear and effective bridge procedures, navigational practices, emergency plans and safety management systems.
– Providing seafarers with sufficient rest periods, healthy working conditions and psychological support to prevent fatigue, stress and mental health problems.
– Ensuring the proper maintenance, inspection and operation of all equipment, systems and structures on board vessels.
– Installing and using fire detection and suppression systems, life-saving appliances, alarms and emergency signals.
– Conducting regular fire drills, lifeboat drills, safety audits and risk assessments.
– Educating seafarers about the hazards of flammable substances, smoking, cooking and hot work and the precautions to take.
– Securing and stabilizing the cargo to prevent shifting, spillage or leakage.
– Following the international regulations, standards and guidelines for maritime safety, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolutions and circulars.

Conclusion

Marine accidents are complex and multifaceted phenomena that can have devastating impacts on the marine environment, the economy and the society. Therefore, it is vital to understand the causes and prevention of marine accidents and to improve the safety of maritime transportation. Human error is a major cause of marine accidents, which can be reduced by addressing the human element in maritime safety and by implementing various measures to enhance the competence, performance and well-being of seafarers. By adopting a proactive and holistic approach to maritime safety, the maritime industry can contribute to the sustainable development of the world.

Bibliography

: N A Ellis et al, ‘The causes of maritime accidents in the period 2002-2016’ (SIRC 2018) accessed 24 January 2024.

: C Dominguez-Péry et al, ‘Reducing maritime accidents in ships by tackling human error: a bibliometric review and research agenda’ (2021) 6 Journal of Shipping and Trade 20 accessed 24 January 2024.

: ‘Top Reasons for Maritime Accidents’ write my thesis homework help (Maritime Injury Guide) accessed 24 January 2024.

: ‘International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974’ (IMO) accessed 24 January 2024.

: ‘International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978’ (IMO) accessed 24 January 2024.

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