Feb.6--ANALYSTS from IHS Maritime & Trade have forecast continued increases in fatal accidents in both the shipping and passenger sectors largely as a result of continued expansion of the global commercial shipping fleet.
Last year, there were 1,639 maritime casualty incidents reported, up 10 per cent from the 1,489 incidents reported in 2013.
IHS estimates that there will be an additional 1,484 new ships this year, adding to the 42,604 vessels considered part of the global trading fleet in 2014. "This trend will continue at roughly three per cent per year and will pass the 50,000 mark by 2020," the company said.
The analysts said the primary concentration of maritime incidents lies in the busy maritime trading zones of Europe and Asia Pacific.
IHS data indicates: "Double digit year-on-year increases in the number of incidents in the top 10 trading zones, with the British Isles and the North Sea seeing a 19 per cent increase alone, while eastern Mediterranean and the South China Sea seeing 12 per cent increases each."
Last year there was a 23 per cent year-on-year increase in vessel collisions, with the busy waters of the South China Sea posting the highest number.
Said analyst Gary Li: "The continued growth in global maritime trade is of course good news, but it should go hand in hand with the safety of seafarers. However, the declining rate of total losses as a proportion of overall casualties is a good trend."
Mr Li said that ship age is also a critical factor, "with the majority of those incidents occurring in Canada, Russia and the Great Lakes being vessels with the highest average ages of 28-31 years.
In terms of potential casualties, the report said that the highest statistical risk is still associated with passenger vessels because so many more people are on board in the event of an incident. In 2014, 418 casualties were reported, 108 per cent more than the 201 casualties reported in 2013.
(Source:shippingazette)