Crew Claims Report 2023/24 & 2024/25, analysing claims data to identify emerging patterns and inform strategies to reduce future risk.
The review covered approximately 3,000 crew-related claims recorded over the two-year period. Non-fatal illnesses accounted for 60% of claims, while 36% involved non-fatal injuries. The remaining 4% were fatalities resulting from injury, illness or suicide.
Key findings of the report:
- Approximately 3,000 crew-related claims were recorded over the two-year period. Of these, 36% related to non-fatal injuries, 60% to non-fatal illnesses, and 4% to fatalities arising from injury, illness or suicide.
- Injury claims were most commonly associated with the hands (27%) and legs (23%), followed by arms and shoulders (15%) and the back (10%). This distribution reflects the physical demands of seafaring, including manual handling, machinery operation and working in a dynamic maritime environment. Head and eye injuries (15% combined) were also notable, suggesting inconsistent use of personal protective equipment. While safety procedures are already in place on board, further emphasis is needed on crew engagement with safety practices, effective risk assessment, teamwork and open communication around hazards.
- Illness claims covered a broad range of conditions, with abdominal issues accounting for nearly a quarter of cases, often without a clear cause. Genitourinary (10%) and circulatory (9%) conditions were also significant. Although many illnesses are influenced by individual risk factors and may not be fully preventable, promoting healthy lifestyles (balanced nutrition, physical activity, weight management, and adequate hydration) and awareness of common symptoms may help reduce incidence and improve outcomes.
- The majority of deaths were illness-related (81% of total deaths). Among deaths caused by injury (19%), over a third involved man overboard incidents, highlighting the need for further analysis to identify additional preventative measures. Suicide remains a concern, particularly among younger seafarers in the age group of 20 to 29 years, indicating a need for enhanced mental health support and targeted interventions for this group.
Injuries
Hand and finger injuries are the most common
Hand injuries (including fingers) are the most common body part injured across many data reports in the maritime industry, and also accounted for the greatest proportion of injuries in our survey. While some hand injuries may be minor, many are significant, and can result in long term disability, impacting the ability to carry out tasks of daily living and affect a seafarer’s ability to return to sea or earn an income.
A significant amount of work conducted on board involves manual handling and working with machinery or moving parts. It is therefore essential that crew are aware of how their hands may be injured, and steps taken around hand injury prevention.
Hand, and particularly finger, injuries are an ever-present risk for seafarers. Much day-to-day work requires manual manipulation and dexterity, that has yet to be fully replaced by automation or other methods.
Often, many injuries are due to the incorrect use or modification of power tools. Guidance on the safe and proper use of power tools can be found here. While the focus remains on reducing the need for crew to place hands in any danger, we emphasise the need for continual awareness of this injury type.
Illnesses
The majority (almost a quarter) of illness claims Britannia sees are due to abdominal pathology. However, this category contains a wide variety of individual complaints. Within the overall abdominal category, the highest number of claims relate to appendicitis (18% of abdominal claims), haemorrhoids (16%), and hernias (14%).
Deaths
In Britannia’s reported claims, there were significantly more deaths caused by illness (81%) than injury (19%).
The most common cause of death due to illness was cardiovascular, e.g. heart attack, or other issues associated with the heart. These cases have been classified as ‘circulation’. Not surprisingly, this was more evident in the ageing population i.e. > 50 years, as it is known that cardiovascular disease increases with age.
Circulation issues account for 58% of death claims we received, whereas it accounts for only 9% of illness claims. Cardiovascular issues can often be fatal.
You are at an increased risk if you:
are aged over 65 years
are overweight
have family history of cardiovascular issues
eat too much salt
don’t consume enough nutrients via fruit or vegetables
don’t do enough exercise
drink a lot of alcohol and caffeine
smoke.
Death by suicide / missing at sea
Eleven cases of suicide, including seafarers reported missing overboard or presumed to have died by suicide, were recorded. All involved either hanging or drowning, according to the report. Seafarers face significant and often unique pressures that can affect their mental health and wellbeing. Despite this, claims and TMAS cases linked to mental health remain relatively low.
The data shows a notable concentration of suicide cases among younger seafarers, particularly those aged 20–29. This is significant given that the 20–29 age group accounts for fewer illness and injury claims overall.
The report cautions that the dataset is too small to support definitive conclusions. However, the same pattern has also been observed across a broader four-year dataset, suggesting that the trend warrants closer attention.
Report highlights ongoing crew wellbeing challenges
The findings highlight the persistent and recurring challenges faced by seafarers and reinforce the need for continued attention to crew wellbeing across the maritime industry.
While the patterns identified during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 policy years are consistent with broader industry trends, the report points to opportunities for more targeted prevention measures, including enhanced pre-employment testing and improved onboard practices.
A better understanding of the root causes of illness, injury and fatalities can help take more informed and proactive steps to protect crews.