Casualties at Sea: Realistic View

CASUALTIES AT SEA: REALISTIC VIEW

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

The subject of the present seminar entitled as “Safety and Maritime Environment Protection: Prospects We Face” is particularly vital and actual both for the fleet as transport industry and for the worldwide industry as a whole, covering simultaneously a great number of aspects.

In my report I would like to expand on one of these questions, namely, maritime casualties.

Summarized casualty statistics, analyzed statistical data and results of this analysis formulated as special proposals shall be necessary for the purpose of reducing the number of casualties andaccidents, and, hence, that is to say, enhancing safety of navigation.

Statistical data on casualties and accidents are not a simple record of problems and tragedies at sea. They shall allow us to define causes of casualties and arrange for prospects of activities so as to minimize arising of such causes.

Apart from the information about the world fleet contained in my report, I would try to present to your attention the data and statistics concerning the ships registered under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis.

Ship casualties result not only in significant losses incurred by Shipowners, Cargo Owners, Underwriters, not only in human tragedies in the event of death of crew members or passengers, but also lead to global consequences of the ecological nature, inasmuch as they frequently give rise to extensive pollution of the surrounding marine environment harmful for the ecological system as a whole.

When comparing the sea-going transport with other means of contemporary transport, it should be noteworthy that in the current century the shipping represents one of the most safe means of commercial transport. Nowadays, the number of human victims fallen in consequence of automobile catastrophes substantially exceeds the death number at sea. Thus, according to the

IHO (МОЗ) data, annually about 1.2 million of people lose their life on roads. In 2008, as a result of aircraft catastrophes 876 people lost their life. The number of human victims at sea, according to the last four years statistics, amounts to: in 2005 - 415, in 2006 - 1747, in 2007 - 448 and in 2008 - 1045 people. The substantial growth of number of those perished in 2006 and in 2008 can be explained by the fact of sunken passenger ferries occurred within those years, such as al-Salam Boccaccio 98, Senopati Nusantara and Princess of the Stars.

The shipping industry, one of the first, has adopted and extensively implemented the International Safety Standards. Commencing from mid-19th century a number of International Agreements was developed and implemented, aiming at enhancing of safety of navigation at sea.

Nevertheless, the reviewed analysis of the data of incidents allows us to contend that the number of such at sea is growing. Please mind the figures set forth below.

We have analyzed the statistical data on cargo ships and passenger ships, including oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, container ships, dry cargo ships, ferries within 2005-2008 and as on August 31, 2009.

The given Table shows that the number of ships in the world fleet is constantly growing from

45 975 in 2005, up to 54 616 as on September, 2009. Notwithstanding the crisis during 2008-2009, the growth in the world fleet has not only stopped but has not slowed down as well.

Please note the percentage data of the indicated growth:

Constant growth of ships in operation is observed during the indicated period, averaging 4.4% per year, and, therefore, within the last 5 years the growth of the world fleet amounts to 18 %! Such growth would lead to intensity of navigation on sea routes

The question is: either the growth of number of ships in the world fleet affected the number of casualties or, as contended by some authors, the development and improvement of theoretical, technological, social, information, lawful security of shipping outlined downward tendencies in the growth of such?

Before I turn to the analysis of casualty situations at sea, I would like to touch upon the statistical data on the fleet flying our flag.

The Administration of the St. Kitts & Nevis flag is comparatively young. Under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis there were registered 155 ships in 2005, 312 ships in 2006, 536 ships in 2008, 730 ships in 2008, and 870 ships operating under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis according to the data as on September, 2009.

The percentage growth in the fleet under the flag of St. Kitts & Nevis is shown in the following diagram:

What is the worldwide statistics of maritime casualties?

In 2005 there were registered 1150 worldwide accidents at sea, in 2006 - 1283 accidents, in 2007 - 1809 accidents and as on September 2009 - 988 accidents.

The given figures include collisions of ships, collisions with any objects (other than ships), fires/explosions, wrecks, damages to the hull or machineries, missing ships, damage to ships or loss of ships as a result of war actions, drifting (stranding)/grounding, casualties as a result of cargo displacement, etc. According to the worldwide statistics, growth of casualty incidents / accidents is being observed through the whole period in question. If in 2006 anumber of casualty accidents in contrast with 2005 increased by 11%, in 2007 a sharp rise is observed when the growth amounted to as much as 25%. In 2008 the casualty level practically remained unchangeable: the growth amounted to 0.8% only. As on August 31, 2009, 988 casualties have been registered. Generally, a great number of casualties are usually registered in the autumn/winter period, therefore, any conclusions or forecasts for 2009 are premature.

When comparing the growth indices of the number of ships and the number of casualties one may conclude that no association is observed between the growth of world fleet and thatof the casualty number.

Prior to 2008, in percentage the casualty number was increasing more swiftly than the number of ships in the world fleet: within 2005-2006 the casualty number grew by 11%, the number of ships - by 3.94%; within 2006-07 the casualty number grew by 25%, the number of ships - by 4.38%. Only in 2008 the casualty number grew by 0.8%, and the number of ships was still rising by 4.72%. Hopefully the downward trend in the casualty number will be enhanced.

To have more objective picture associating the number of ships and the number of casualty, please address the coefficient accepted in the world statistics which shows the quantity of casualties per 1000 ships. In the world fleet this index constitutes as much as 25 in 2005, 26 in 2006, 32 in 2007 and 31 casualties per 1000 ships in 2008. It is of interest that this coefficient is less in the case of ships under the St. Kitts & Nevis flag: that is 13 in 2005, 6 in 2006,

11 in 2007 and 10 casualties per 1000 ships in 2008, that is 2, 4 and 3 times less respectively than the indices in the world fleet. And this is notwithstanding that the average age of ships under our flag is about 20 years old.

The Table set forth below subdivides the casualty situations in categories and years commencing from 2005 and until 2009.

Casualties caused by damages to the hull and machineries (over 30%) is the most popular type of casualties. As on August 31 this year this figure has amounted to 39%. Casualties caused by drifting(stranding)/grounding (about 20%) occupy the second place. Collisions between ships constitute also about 20%. Collisions with other items than ships, cover about 10%. Furthermore, figures are distributing as follows: fires and explosions - 7 – 8%, wtrecks - about 3%. Less than 1% falls upon the type of missing ships, casualties as a consequence of war actions and others.

Nowadays, when shipping entered the new era the flag role cannot be underestimated in the process of rendering assistance to Shipowners with the purpose of safe and efficient operation of ships, inasmuch as in the present conditions the flag role shall not be restricted within the limits of ships’ registration and recording of their names and nationalities. In particular, the St. Kitts & Nevis flag Administration is capable of offering the Shipowners a great deal and is endeavouring to play the most active role in enhancing safety of navigation, in liquidating consequences of casualties. The flag Administration has issued Circulars binding to keep advised the Administration about all incidents with ships flying our flag, a form has been developed which shall be filled in by the Shipowner in the case of an incident so as to notify the flag Administration about it. It is worthy to note that it is according to thee Shipowners’ interests to inform the flag Administration about all incidents at the earliest opportunities, and our Shipowners are fully aware about it. Our flag policy is not to punish the Shipowner for what has happened but, after analysis of the situation, to help him to investigate the causes, and as soon as possible to eliminate consequences providing technical advice, if necessary. We maintain the policy of special approach in every particular case. Our Surveyors are always ready to attend the ship and in cooperation with the Company and crew members to resume the ship’s operation as soon as possible and practicable, upon compliance with all statutory safety requirements. It is understandable that the ship shalloperate and earn, and if the ship earnsbutdoes not spend money resources for demurrage and penalties there will be more possibilities to enhance its safety because in the case the ship and the Shipowner earn, they will be in possession of resources to renew the ship’s equipment, hence, all machineries will be in proper working order, the ship will be manned with more qualified personnel, and one cannot but agree that this is a guarantee of safe navigation.