The Liberian container vessel, carrying marine fuel, that developed a critical 26-degree list nearly 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi on Saturday.
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As environmental threat looms off Kerala coast after a container ship incident, an industry report shows that a total of 186 incidents were reported across marine and other casualty categories in the country in 2024.
The incidents resulted in 83 deaths and 61 injuries, reflecting significant human impact, according to the draft Marine Safety Investigation Report 2024 undertaken by the Directorate General of Shipping.
In 2024, incidents onboard were the most frequently-reported with 47 cases across the year. These resulted in 7 fatalities and 43 injuries, making it the highest-impact category overall. The year saw 10 maritime collision incidents , resulting in 3 fatalities and no recorded injuries, said the report.
In 2024, six incidents of sinking and grounding were reported, resulting in 4 fatalities and no injuries. These events are typically sudden and high impact, often giving crews very little time to respond, the report said.
Majority of the incidents were reported on Marshall Islands, Panama, and Indian flagged vessels in 2024 and were operational and non-operational casualties. While Marshall Islands showed a higher share of welfare-related issues, Panama showed uniform exposure across categories—reflecting the high number of Indian seafarers on these flags, typical of large registries.
physical dangers
Injury data highlights the discrepancy between operational and non-operational risks. The majority of injuries arose from marine casualties—particularly onboard incidents—highlighting the inherent physical dangers of shipboard operations. While fewer in number, injuries reported under non-operational categories also persist, pointing to broader health and safety concerns that extend beyond equipment or structural failures.
Out of the total marine casualties, bulk carriers (52), container ships (30), and oil/product tankers (28) were the most frequently involved in marine casualties in 2024, reflecting their high operational demand and complexity.
Bulk carriers, in particular, are susceptible to structural stress due to heavy cargo loads, while container ships face challenges related to port congestion and equipment handling. Oil and product tankers carry additional risk due to the hazardous nature of their cargo, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols. The casualty patterns underscore the need for enhanced risk management strategies across these high-traffic vessel categories, the report said.
These vessel types dominate global trade routes and often operate under tight schedules, increasing their exposure to navigational and mechanical risks, says DGComm Centre Annual Casualty Report, a comprehensive analysis of maritime incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers in 2024.
Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, said in the report: “Our direction is clear: we are building a casualty response system that is anticipatory rather than reactive, and a safety culture that is owned collectively across the Indian maritime Ecosystem.”.
Published on May 25, 2025
