At least 1,010 fatalities in enclosed spaces aboard vessels between 2000-2024


In response to concerns over the ongoing loss of life in the cargo holds of ships loading or discharging solid bulk cargoes at ports and terminals worldwide, Vistrato undertook a review of all reported accidents to identify underlying trends and consolidated the data on the “True Scale of Enclosed Space Fatalities aboard Ships” report.


Initially, the International Bulk Terminals Association


(IBTA) submitted data to IMO on ship and shore worker fatalities in cargo holds during solid bulk cargo handling and later expanded the analysis to assess the full scale of cargo-related and non-cargo-related fatalities in enclosed spaces across all ship types.


Total enclosed space fatalities for the period 2000 to 2024


At least 1,010 ship and shore workers lost their lives in enclosed spaces between 2000 and 2024 on ships covered by the SOLAS Convention. The average loss of life is 40 fatalities per year for the 25-year period. The worst year on record was 2019 with 72 fatalities.


The total loss of life for the last 5 years from 2020 to 2024 is 250, averaging 50 deaths per year, but is now showing a significant downward trend, with at least 29 fatalities reported to date for 2024.


Fatalities by ship type


In summary, tankers accounted for the highest number of enclosed space fatalities, with a total of 402 deaths, followed by 308 on bulk carriers and 134 on general cargo ships. Containerships and offshore vessels each recorded 53 fatalities, while Ro-Ro and reefer ships had 15 deaths each.


142 | ISSUE 115 | MAR 2026 | THE REPORT


Dredgers accounted for 11 deaths, passenger ships 10, and other vessel types, including car carriers, livestock carriers, and commercial yachts, totalled 9 fatalities.


Smaller ships appear to be more frequently involved in these incidents than larger vessels, largely due to the leakage of cargo gases from cargo spaces into adjacent accommodation, forecastle working areas, electrical switch rooms, ballast tanks, and void spaces.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156