Total ships lost has become 75 in 2014, that is down from 110 total losses in 2013 and is well below the 10-year average of 127 ships per year.
A review by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), focuses on key developments in maritime safety and analyzes shipping losses (of over 100 gross tons).
Highlights of Safety And Shipping Review 2015:
Total large ships lost in 2014 | 75 |
% ↑ or ↓ | 32%↓ |
| Major loss locations waters | South China and Southeast Asian |
Major incident locations | Mediterranean and the British Isles |
| Major vessel type lost | 50% were Cargo and fishing vessels |
Identified factors | 1. Ship size growth raises |
2. Risk management concerns | |
3. Overreliance on e-navigation | |
4. Cyber protection a major concern. |
- 90% of World trade is estimated to be transported by sea.
- 75 total losses reported worldwide in 2014 is the lowest in 10 years.
- 2,773 casualties (incidents) were reported during 2014.
- East Mediterranean & Black Sea region leads with 490 casualties.
- Over 110 losses in Northern hemisphere during December.
- The hardest month in Southern hemisphere was August with 22 Casualties.
- One vessel in the Great Lakes region of North America has been involved in 19 incidents in the past 8 years
- Raise in concerns over passenger ship safety (Sewol and Norman Atlantic).
- 80% capacity increase, entry of ships that can carry 19,000+ containers.
- The increase in shipping casualties in Arctic Circle waters from 3 a decade ago to 55 in 2014 paved way for the Polar Code.
- The outbreak of the Ebola virus had safety threats.
- Piracy down by 7% in 2014. Declining for the fourth successive year
- The carrying capacity of container ships has increased 1,200 percent since 1968.
Causes Identified:
- Weak Points in vessel construction.
- Inadequate levels of crew experience, training and emergency preparedness.
- Minimum manning levels are reducing the ability to train people onboard, providing invaluable insight.
- Overreliance on electronic navigation.
Action required:
- The industry should prepare for a $1bn+ loss in future featuring a container vessel or even a specialized floating offshore facility.
- Electronic Chart Display and Information System must be filtered back into the training environment.
- Reduce dependence on e-navigation.
- Improve interconnectivity of the maritime sector and enhance cyber security awareness.
- Companies must simulate potential scenarios and identify appropriate cyber attack mitigation strategies.
- Identification of advanced methods to tackle piracy.
- Special efforts to control Human trafficking and Search and Rescue issues, particularly in the Mediterranean must be enhanced.
- War/upheaval risk to be taken care of to reduce pressure on the shipping supply chain.
- Crew cost-cutting concerns.
- Container ship structural safety issues
- Slow steaming and engine challenges
- Liquefaction losses
- Piracy trends and developments.
Source: Allianz
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