FATALITIES PER 1,000 SHIPYEAR


0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0


1978-1998 1998-2010 2011-2024


THE DRY BULK INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED A CLEAR AND REMARKABLE REDUCTION IN FATAL ACCIDENTS OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES.


Chart 1: Fatalities on Dry Bulk Ships Have Almost All Fallen Over Time. Source: Bureau Veritas


SAFER SEAFARERS


Historically, the primary sources of fatalities in the dry bulk sector have been vessel foundering, fires & explosions and navigational accidents. Over time, these categories have declined markedly as a result of regulatory, structural, and operational improvements.


A first wave of reforms in the late 1990s addressed loading and unloading practices, structural safety requirements, and hatch cover integrity. The adoption of the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers (BLU Code) in 1997, followed by SOLAS Chapter XII, introduced enhanced standards that directly reduced the risk of structural failure and water ingress.


In the mid-2000s, the implementation of the Common Structural Rules (CSR) by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) helped further strengthen vessel structural safety. These harmonized rules established a consistent baseline for structural strength, fatigue assessment over a typical 25-year design life, corrosion protection, and standardized cargo loading and ballasting conditions.


Image courtesy of Bureau Veritas


CASUALTY CATEGORIES Foundering Liquefaction


Fire / Explosion


Vessel sinks due to flooding or loss of stability.


Moisture-sensitive cargo behaves like a liquid, causing sudden stability failure and potential sinking.


Fatalities resulting from onboard fire or explosion.


Navigational Accident Collision, contact, or grounding incidents. Hull / Machinery Missing


War Loss Under Repair Structural or machinery failure leading to fatal consequences.


Whole vessel missing or unaccounted for, with the ship and crew presumed lost.


Fatality caused by armed conflict or weapon impact. Fatal accident occurring while the vessel is in shipyard or repair. 13 | ADMISI - The Ghost In The Machine | Q2 Edition 2026


Foundering (excl. Liq)


Liquefaction


Missing


Fire & Explosion


Navigational Accidents


Hull & Machinery


War Loss


Under Repair


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