The number of deaths in shipping accidents in EU waters rose to 61in 2010
The number of deaths in shipping accidents in European Union (EU) waters rose to 61 in 2010, up from 52 in 2009.
The figures, from the European Maritime Safety Agency Annual Maritime Accident Review, show that the deaths took place during 559 shipping accidents last year compared with 540 in 2009.
However, the number of maritime deaths has fallen from 82 in 2007, before the worldwide recession hit shipping activity.
The greatest number of fatalities in 2010 involved fishing vessels (33 per cent), with 20 lives lost, followed by cargo vessels (28 per cent).
Almost half the accidents (45 per cent) were involved in collisions and contacts with infrastructure, around 22 per cent were involved in groundings, and around 13 per cent in fires and explosions. As in previous years, the majority of vessels involved in accidents in EU waters, 63%, were registered in EU countries.
Source: ITF
