MARINE ACCIDENT FREQUENCIES - REVIEW AND RECENT EMPIRICAL RESULTS

Marine accident frequencies reported in 20 different sources have been studied and compared. Further than this, comparisons were made with a n analysis done by the present authors. There seems to be consistency within the sources in the use of the terms total loss, casualty and ac cident/incident. The rates were observed to decrease by an order of ma gnitude going from accident/incident to casualty and likewise from cas ualty to total loss. The overall frequencies were found to be in the r ange of 0.009 to 0.07 total losses per 10(6) ship miles, 0.03 to 1 cas ualties per 10(6) ship miles, and 0.5 to 13 accidents/incidents per 10 (6) ship miles. It was found that the frequency depends on visibility, brightness, geographical environment, age of vessel and size of vesse l. Collision and grounding frequencies were found to increase with dec reasing visibility, brightness and more restricted waters. Collision f requencies were found to increase with increasing size of vessel. Fire /explosion and structural damage frequencies were found to increase wi th increasing age, and collisions to decrease with increasing age. No firm trend was found from the effect of flag state or type of vessel.