Key causes of bulk carriers losses in the last 10 years

Between 2008 and 2017 there have been 53 total losses of bulk carriers of 10,000 tonne deadweight and above, with the reported loss of 202 seafarers, according to the Bulk Carrier Casualty Report 2017 recently issued by INTERCARGO. The report highlights that cargo failure, including liquefaction, is one of the greatest concerns for the safe carriage of dry bulk and is likely the cause of the loss of 101 seafarers’ lives and 9 vessel losses in the last ten years.

Key points

• 53 bulk carriers over 10,000 dwt have been identified as lost, or on average 5 ships per year.
• 202 crewmembers have lost their lives as consequence, or on average 20 lives lost per year.
• The highest loss of life has been attributed to cargo failure (liquefaction), totaling 101 lives lost or 50.0% of total loss of life resulted from the 9 casualties.
• The most common reported cause of ship losses has been grounding, totaling 22 losses or 41.5 % of total losses.
• Losses due to flooding for 8 ships (15.1%) and 14 lives (6.9%) have been significant.
• Losses of lives resulted from 6 ships lost with unknown causes accounted 61 lives, or 30.2% of total life losses, among them the 2 casualties in 2017 (Stellar Daisy and Emerald Star) causing 32 lives lost.

Casualties of Handysize bulk carriers

Casualties of Handymax bulk carriers

Casualties of Supramax bulk carriers

Casualties of Panamax bulk carriers

Casualties of Capesize bulk carriers

Focusing on the last two years alone, INTERCARGO cited the most common causes in 2016 and 2017 :

1. Machinery and technical,
2. Main Engine,
3. Grounding,
4. Collision,
5. Allision.