Fatalities (2016–2019)

AMSA collects and records data on operational related fatalities⁵ on regulated Australian and foreign flagged vessels. Between 2016 and 2019, there were seven fatalities associated with seven incidents (Figure 19). All occurred on foreign-flagged vessels. Six involved crew members and one (in 2016) was a passenger fatality.

Of the six crew fatalities, two involved elevator maintenance, one was a result of an electrical shock and three of the crew fatalities involved falls. 

In response to these incidents, AMSA has published safety bulletins and marine notices on these topics, including: 

• Electrical Safety (2016/03) – This safety bulletin explores electrical safety and aims to provide further awareness and recommended actions that will promote an effective electrical safety culture on board ships.
• Working over the side (2016/04) – This safety bulletin focuses on working over the side and safety issues associated with such tasks. 
• Fatal accidents caused by moving elevators on ships (2020/01) – This marine notice highlights shipowners, operators, masters and crews obligation to ensure safe working arrangements are in place for any work involving a ship’s elevator.

Figure 20 provides a breakdown of the fatality data for the period 2016 to 2019 by vessel type with most fatalities occurring on bulk carriers.

^{Footnote: 5 These include fatalities associated with the operation of the vessel and are captured as a fatality occurring during a marine incident.}