01/04/2016
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Shipping losses continued downwards with 85 total losses reported worldwide in 2015, three less than 2014, making it the safest twelve month period in a decade, according to insurance company Allianz. In its fourth annual Safety and Shipping Review, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) sifted through reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons. Losses have declined by 45% since 2006, driven by an increasingly robust safety environment and self-regulation. However, disparities by region and vessel-type remain.
More than a quarter of all losses occurred in the South China, Indochina, Indonesia and Philippines region (22 ships), which has been the top loss hotspot for the past decade. Losses increased year-on-year, unlike other major regions.
Cargo and fishing vessels accounted for over 60% of ships lost globally, with cargo losses up for the first time in three years. The most common cause of total losses is foundering, accounting for almost 75% of losses, up 25%, and often driven by bad weather.
There were 2,687 reported shipping incidents (casualties including total losses) globally during 2015, down 4%. Activity is spread across all days of the week, although Thursday sees the most incidents and Saturday the fewest. The East Mediterranean and Black Sea (484) remains the top incident hotspot. Three vessels share the accolade of being the most ‘incident-prone’ – a ro-ro in the Great Lakes region, a hydrofoil in the East Mediterranean & Black Sea and a ferry in the British Isles – with 19 incidents over the past decade.
In interpreting the data, AGCS wrote: “While the long-term downward trend in shipping losses is encouraging, the continuing weak economic and market conditions, depressed commodity prices and an excess of ships are pressurising costs, raising safety concerns. We have seen an increase in frequency losses over the past year which can likely be attributed to some extent to this environment
ships-lost-at-sea-in-2015 ( The Maritime Professional, 30 March 2016)
So as professionals of marine industry, what can you to avert the cost heights that are caused by the ship losses along with the human fatalities? what appropriate steps need to be taken to broadly to reduce casualities? To have an in-depth understanding of security awareness in international maritime, refer to Sea and Shore Safety Services training courses to familirise yoursel with theoretical and practical concepts of marine security.