Safety and Regulations

Current Article:
	Improving the Safety of General Cargo Ships
The Safety Committee of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects has identified the particularly high risks of accidents which general cargo ships experience They account for nearly 20% of the world merchant fleet, but suffer over 40% of total losses and almost 40% of the fatalities. These accidents amount to 90 ships lost per year and cause the death of 170 seafarers each year world-wide. These statistics are based on the period 1995 to 2000 [1], but more recent statistics are little better [4]. The risks of death to individual seafarers are higher than on any other large ship type, and the total death toll is roughly equal to that from oil tankers, bulk carriers and Ro-Ro passenger ferries combined. It is clearly desirable for the maritime community to take action to reduce the risks, although it is not clear exactly what action would be most effective. The Safety Committee has taken a number of steps to highlight these risks and promote action to improve the safety of general cargon ships. A report of progress is published in the Safety News section of the Technical Forum.
Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 6:33 am