Marine injury claims have soared and suicides at sea are at worryingly high levels, according to a new report released by marine insurer Gard.
The report, Gard Crew Claims Report 2024, based on the analysis of five years of people claims data and more than 20 000 cases, shows that in 2023 claims for crew and non-crew soared 44 to almost 1 000 claims compared to 2020.
Among the statistics shared in the report are the top ten most frequent illnesses, most frequent injuries, as well as the number of crew fatalities over the five-year period. The report also spotlights the importance of mental health and preventive measures that can be taken by shipowners, managers and seafarers.
Mental disorders are in the top ten list of most frequent medical issues. Gard registered an annual average of 47 cases of mental health disorders, 18 cases of suicides and 16 cases of missing persons since 2020.
The number of mental health-related cases unfortunately grew significantly during the pandemic, probably as a direct consequence of the mental strain and prolonged isolation many seafarers experienced at the time, the report noted.
A concerning trend is that some 11 of our registered crew fatalities are due to suicide. This is a worryingly high number and we believe that the actual number could in fact be much higher due to underreporting. We also believe that many cases of crew deaths are preventable, the report found.
Gard recorded more than 400 crew fatalities during the five years, with the worst recorded year being 2021.
Gard chief claims officer, Christen Guddal, said the insurer was publishing the report because the safety of seafarers was a top priority.
They are the backbone of shipping that makes global trade go round. Every year we deal with a lot of incidents and claims related to crew. We hope that sharing key figures and insights will ultimately contribute to enhanced crew safety and well-being, Guddal said.
The report was also important for shipowners and managers, as crew safety impacted operational safety, he added.
The health and safety of seafarers and their working environment will impact situational awareness and the decisions they take. This, in turn, impacts the risk and likelihood of maritime accidents.
Gard vice president, Lene-Camilla Nordlie, said the industry was unfortunately far from where we would like to be when it comes to crew fatalities and injuries.
Respecting human rights at sea also relates to making sure seafarers place of work, on keel, is safe, healthy, and attractive. In Gard, we believe that more can be done to prevent some of these accidents, and with this report, we hope to contribute to increased transparency and constructive discussions across the industry, Nordlie said.
The report noted that the increase in frequency of injury claims had been a clear trend since 2020 and deserved the attention of both vessel operators and seafarers.
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