Inadequate staffing, leading to sleep deprivation, has been identified as a significant contributor to the increasing number of accidents at sea.
“Sleep deprivation heightens the risk of all types of accidents, especially falls and incidents involving heavy equipment,” says Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin.
“This issue could be mitigated with shorter shifts, which would be possible with increased staffing. Even man overboard (MOB) accidents are partly a result of low staffing, as many of these incidents go unwitnessed.
More crew members on board reduce the chances of an unwitnessed fall, thereby lowering the risk of losing a crew member at sea.”
Multiple studies confirm that falls, either from a height onto a ship’s surface or overboard into the sea, are the most common cause of serious injuries or fatalities on ships.
Additionally, contact with heavy objects, leading to blunt force trauma or crush injuries, poses a significant hazard on ships, in ports, and on offshore platforms.
A consistent finding across these studies is that most casualties occur during routine work, suggesting that maritime injuries are often a result of systemic issues within the industry’s organizational structure.
Mechanical failures in the shipping industry further illuminate the growing problem of maritime accidents. According to research from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, maritime incidents have increased over the last decade, with more than half of these incidents caused by mechanical failures. In 2022, the number of ship mechanical failures reached its highest point in over a decade.
One reason for this rise is the reduced time spent in port for maintenance and repair, leading to ships departing with unresolved critical issues.
The scarcity of available dry docks and skilled ship mechanics exacerbates the problem, but the primary driver is the tight schedules imposed by shipping companies.
While expanding crew sizes is seen as a potential solution, the opposite trend is occurring. Crews on all types of vessels—container ships, tankers, and tugboats—are shrinking due to the adoption of automation technology. Although this reduces operational costs, it simultaneously increases the risk to each crew member.
“Companies have two options to reduce the risks faced by workers: they can increase operational costs by expanding staffing without reducing pay, or they can cover the lifetime costs associated with the injuries often suffered by maritime crews after a serious accident. One option is preventative, but both are simply the right thing to do.”
