Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents 2025, which presents statistics of marine casualties and incidents that cover the period from 1st of January 2015 to 31st of December 2024 reported by the EU member states.
In 2024, most of the indicators, such as the number of occurrences, ships lost, fatalities or injuries, are near or below the average values for the entire period from 2015 to 2024. In 2024, 2,659 marine casualties and incidents were reported which represent a decrease of 50 compared to 2023 and an increase of 24 compared to 2022.
Furthermore, the total number of marine casualties and incidents reported from 2015 to 2024 was 26,751 with an annual average of 2,675. The annual average of marine casualties and incidents from 2015 to 2024 was equal to the pre-pandemic average from 2015 to 2019. The number of casualties and incidents in 2024 was 0.6% lower than the annual average in the analysed period.
After a peak of 106 very serious casualties reported in 2018 and a total of 77 in 2019, annual very serious marine casualties were on average 57 from 2020 to 2024, with a minimum of 51 in 2024, indicating a downward trend. In 2024, 2,864 ships were involved in marine casualties and incidents, a decrease of 74 ships compared to 2023, and an increase of 29 ships compared to 2022.
Ship involvement trends
The number of ships involved in reported marine casualties and incidents in 2024 were 2,864: 1,265 cargo ships, 625 passenger ships, 457 fishing vessels, 389 service ships and 128 other ships. In 2004, there was an increase in the number of cargo and service ships and a decrease in the number of passenger ships and fishing vessels. Service ships and other ships categories were, in 2024, over the average values in the analysed period.
Ship occurrence indicators
EU ship occurrence indicator provides an estimate of how many marine casualties and incidents occurred per one thousand ships of a determined ship type in the EU fleet in a specific period. The average ship occurrence indicator from 2015 to 2024 was 131, with a peak of 139 in 2019, a minimum of 115 in 2020 and 131 in 2024.
In 2024 both passenger ships and cargo ships had the highest average ship occurrence indicators, 247 and 147 respectively.
Geographical distribution of occurrences
- From 2015 to 2024, the total number of marine casualties and incidents was 26,751, of which 16,358 (61.1%) were in geographical areas inside EU limits and 10,393 (38.9%) in geographical areas outside EU limits.
- Casualties and incidents in EU limits are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: North Atlantic Ocean (37.3%), Mediterranean Sea (29.1%), Baltic Sea (18.7%), Artic Ocean (7.8%), Other seas (4.5%) and Inland waters (2.6%).
- Casualties and incidents in non-EU limits are distributed from highest to lowest is: North Atlantic Ocean (42.4%), Other seas (30.8%), Mediterranean Sea (16.0), Baltic Sea (6.2%), Arctic Ocean (2.4%) and Inland waters (2.2%).
Investigations and safety reports
Between 2015 and 2024, EU Accident Investigative Bodies launched 1,123 investigations (Figure 2.4–1) and made public 950 safety investigation reports. In 2024, 60 investigations were reported to have been launched, meaning a decrease of 34.1% in comparison with 2023. It is worth noting that the number of investigations launched has been declining year by year since 2018.
Fatalities and injuries
Fatalities: From 2015 to 2024, a total of 609 lives were lost in 416 marine casualties, with a decreasing trend observed over the period. In that period, the maximum number of lives lost in passengers was reached in 2024 with a total of 6 fatalities.
In 2024, 78.4% of the victims were crew members whereas the average of fatalities of crew members from 2015 to 2024 was 86.5%. The primary cause of fatalities for occurrences with persons in 2024 was fall caused by stumbling and slipping. Collision was the primary cause of fatalities for occurrences with ships.
Injuries: From 2015 to 2024, there were a total of 7,479 injuries resulting from 6,534 marine casualties and incidents. The average of injuries per year during this period was 748, with a minimum of 609 injuries reported in 2020. In 2024, 84.7% of the injured were crew members while the proportion of injured crew members over the entire period from 2015 to 2024 was 84.8%.
In 2024, the main events resulting in injuries were body movement under or with physical stress (generally leading to an internal injury) for occurrences with persons and collision and contacts for occurrences with ships. From 2015 to 2024, the predominant events causing injuries were falls caused by stumbling and slipping for occurrences with persons, and collisions for occurrences with ships.
Ships lost and damaged in 2024
- In 2024, 13 ships were lost, representing an 18.8% decrease compared to 2023
- 785 ships were damaged, marking a 12.1% increase from 2023
- The number of ships considered unfit to proceed increased by 0.9% to 222 ships
- Shore assistance was required for 779 ships, showing a 4.1% increase compared to 2023
- 370 ships required towing, resulting in a 7.0% decrease compared to 2023
- 24 ships, mainly fishing vessels, were abandoned, reflecting an 11.1% decrease compared to 2023.
Pollution-related occurrences
In 2024, 48 pollutions related occurrences were reported, representing a 12.7% decrease compared to 2023.
Human element in marine casualties
- From 2015 to 2024, 64.5% of accident events were linked to human action
- 50.5% of the contributing factors were related to human behaviour
- When considering both, 78.8% of the investigated marine casualties and incidents involved the human element.
Safety recommendations
Over the period from 2015 to 2024, the total number of safety recommendations issued, and actions taken reported was 2,426 and 43.6% of them were dealing with ship related procedures.