Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)

Appendix to Marine Incident Annual Report 2023

Table A1 Distribution of incidents by severity in each vessel kind, DCV (2019-2023)

Vessel ClassYearLess SeriousSeriousVery Serious
Passenger201989.0%10.8%0.3%
202077.4%22.6% 
202175.4%24.4%0.3%
202281.1%18.9% 
202373.7%26.3% 
Non-Passenger201985.4%13.3%1.4%
202074.1%25.2%0.6%
202172.1%27.1%0.8%
202274.5%24.7%0.8%
202376.8%22.7%0.5%
Hire & Drive201985.9%14.1% 
202061.5%36.9%1.5%
202163.6%35.1%1.3%
202276.6%20.8%2.6%
202370.7%26.8%2.7%
Fishing201978.4%18.1%3.4%
202046.5%50.0%3.5%
202150.0%46.4%3.6%
202250.9%46.5%2.6%
202354.9%43.4%1.6%

Table A2 Proportion of vessels reporting an incident by class and state, DCV 202 3.

ClassNSWNTQLDSATASVICWATotal
Passenger30.9%9.2%23.7%16.3%20.5%12.8%22.8%23.9%
Non-Passenger2.2%5.0%5.1%1.5%2.1%2.9%3.9%3.5%
Fishing1.3%4.7%1.7%1.1%1.7%3.7%2.2%1.7%
Hire & Drive1.2% 4.1%1.1% 1.6%1.0%2.0%
Total4.6%4.8%6.0%1.8%2.8%3.4%5.2%4.6%

Table A3. Incident reports by state and vessel class, DCV 2019-2023

StateVessel Class20192020202120222023
NSWFishing615181117
Hire & drive412181420
Non-passenger3368766675
Passenger  98100146176184
Total141195258267296
NTFishing111613159
Hire & drive 2   
Non-passenger813252225
Passenger5521129
Total2436594943
QLDFishing5540454541
Hire & drive5143384245
Non-passenger107130151160186
Passenger145104139206198
Total358317373453470
SAFishing976812
Hire & drive72343
Non-passenger921211412
Passenger1511121211
Total4041423838
TASFishing1515131018
Non-passenger41111211
Passenger57151014
Total2423393243
VICFishing37457
Hire & drive12212129
Non-passenger2416293332
Passenger254171521
Total6429626569
WAFishing1614112018
Hire & drive44655
Non-passenger3464636165
Passenger4235486966
Total96117128155154
other Australian TerritoriesFishing1    
Non-passenger     
Passenger    1
Total1   1
Total74875896110591114

Table A4 Person overboard incidents and POB life jacket status by vessel length and class, DCV (2022)1

Vessel ClassMeasured Length GroupsMan overboard unknown lifejacketMan overboard with a lifejacketMan overboard without a lifejacketTotal
Fishing1. 0-7.5m 112
2. 7.5-12m11 2
3. 12-24m3115
4. 24-35m1  1
Total42210
Hire & Drive1. 0-7.5m1315
 2. 7.5-12m11 2
 3.12-24m 1 1
 Total2518
Non-Passenger1. 0-7.5m 15318
2. 7.5-12m24 6
3. 12-24m15 6
4. 24-35m1   
6. 45+m 1 1
Other 2 2
PassengerTotal427334
2. 7.5-12m2248
3. 12-24m331117
4. 24-35m22610
5. 35-45m 112
 6. 45+m  22
 Total782439
Total 18433091

Table A5 Vessel consequence by vessel class, DCV (2023)

Vessel Class (groups)FishingHire & DriveNon-PassengerPassengerTotal
Level 2Count of Incident IDCount of Incident IDCount of Incident IDCount of Incident IDCount of Incident ID
Collision7861435
Grounding8414834
Other75101234
Contact3381731
Disabled8 81026
Flooding929424
Hull Failure/Damage428721
Foundering/Sinking/Loss844319
Listing/Capsize4212119
Fire Machinery/Work Space2 6816
Machinery Failure/Damage11439
Evacuation1 214
Smoke  314
Breakaway 11 2
Fire Other11  2
Close Quarters   11
Fire Accommodation   11

Table A6 Top 5 Operational and Technical incident circumstances by class, DCV (2019-2023)

OPERATIONAL  
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
Hire & DriveVessel Control and Navigation92.83%
Hire & DriveCommunication2.95%
Hire & DriveOperational Access2.95%
Hire & DriveMaintenance2.53%
Hire & DriveSailing1.69%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
FishingVessel Control and Navigation69.32%
FishingCargo Handling Stores19.92%
FishingCommunication6.37%
FishingMaintenance4.78%
FishingOperational Access3.59%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
Non-PassengerVessel Control and Navigation74.68%
Non-PassengerOperational Access8.98%
Non-PassengerMaintenance7.58%
Non-PassengerCargo Handling Stores6.30%
Non-PassengerCommunication5.83%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
PassengerVessel Control and Navigation69.84%
PassengerOperational Access13.86%
PassengerDiving/Snorkelling8.76%
PassengerCommunication6.43%
PassengerCargo Handling Stores4.55%
TECHNICAL  
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
Hire & DrivePower Propulsion and Steering38.30%
Hire & DriveVessel Systems34.04%
Hire & DriveEngineering Systems14.89%
Hire & DriveStructure8.51%
Hire & DriveAccess2.13%
Hire & DriveCargo and stores2.13%
Hire & DriveCommunication Equipment2.13%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
FishingCommunication Equipment3.40%
FishingNavigational Monitoring Equipment3.40%
FishingStructure10.88%
FishingVessel Systems19.73%
FishingEngineering Systems23.81%
FishingPower Propulsion and Steering43.54%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
Non-PassengerPower Propulsion and Steering51.39%
Non-PassengerEngineering Systems23.24%
Non-PassengerVessel Systems22.81%
Non-PassengerStructure5.97%
Non-PassengerNavigational Monitoring Equipment3.62%
   
Vessel Class (groups)Level 2%GT Count of Incident ID
PassengerPower Propulsion and Steering65.05%
PassengerEngineering Systems21.98%
PassengerVessel Systems10.33%
PassengerStructure4.62%
PassengerAccess2.64%

Table A7 Proportion of vessel arrivals, reported marine incidents categorised by very serious and serious by vessel type, FF vessels (2023)

Ship Type% of Arrivals (Ship Type)Count of Marine INcident ID% reported incidents (Ship Type)Very Serious & Serious IncidentsVery S & Serious incidents %
wood-chip carrier1.3%290.7%20.7%
vehicle carrier3.6%902.1%72.3%
tugboat2.4%741.7%196.2%
special purpose ship0.4%320.7%41.3%
ro-ro passenger ship0.1%120.3%20.7%
ro-ro cargo ship0.5%410.9%51.6%
refrigerated cargo vessel0.1%10.0%10.3%
passenger ship1.1%1994.6%165.2%
other types of ship2.1%661.5%103.2%
oil tanker/NLS tanker0.0%    
oil tanker/gas carrier0.0%10.0%  
oil tanker/chemical tanker3.4%1303.0%72.3%
oil tanker4.0%1493.4%92.9%
offshore service vessel0.5%340.8%20.7%
NLS tanker0.3%160.4%20.7%
MODU or FPSO0.0%120.3%20.7%
livestock carrier0.3%320.7%72.3%
heavy load carrier0.4%160.4%10.3%
general cargo/multi-purpose ship5.4%2465.7%309.8%
gas carrier/NLS tanker0.0%    
gas carrier3.9%1373.2%113.6%
container ship5.2%56513.1%4615.0%
commercial yacht0.0%    
combination carrier0.2%270.6%20.6%
chemical tanker1.5%531.2%41.3%
bulk carrier62.8%234454.1%11236.5%

Table A8 Operational activity associated with crew injury by vessel type, FF and RAV (2023)

Vessel type Cargo handling storesMaintenanceOperational accessVessel control and navigationAccommodation/Hotel Services
Bulk carrier17251320
Container vessel47300
Gas carrier 2210
General cargo/ multi-purpose57121
Livestock carrier11000
Oil tanker25211
Other1012552
Passenger vessel14601
Vehicle carrier11001

Table A9 Top 10 equipment failures associated with technical occurrences, FF and RAV (2020-2023)

Sub-category of technical occurrencesEquipment failed2020202120222023
Power Propulsion and SteeringMain Engine/Gearing336351364322
Vessel SystemsBallast148238345407
Navigational Monitoring EquipmentRadar207194235205
Vessel SystemsMooring/Anchoring206218221165
AccessPilot/Combination Ladder229139199114
Communication EquipmentGMDSS154163199145
Power Propulsion and SteeringAuxiliary Engines/Alternators149175144184
Navigational Monitoring EquipmentVDR9296110101
Navigational Control EquipmentGyro/Magnetic Compass8810610482
Engineering SystemsExhaust Gas Cleaning Systems888110791

Table A10 Top-3 technical failures by vessel type as proportion of all incidents, FF and RAV (2023)

Vessel typeTechnical occurrence types, % of vessels-type incidents 
 Vessel typeTechnical occurrence types, % of vessels-type incidents 
Bulk carrierVessel Systems 20.9%Engineering Systems 17.2%Navigational Monitoring Equipment 15.4%
Vehicle carrierPower Propulsion and Steering 24.7%Vessel Systems 17.6%Engineering Systems 10.6%
Container Power Propulsion and Steering 23.4%Engineering Systems 15.8%Navigational Monitoring Equipment 13.7%
vessel
Gas carrierVessel Systems 19.8%Power Propulsion and Steering 16.0%Engineering Systems 14.5%
General cargo/multi-purpose vesselPower Propulsion and Steering 18.6%Navigational Monitoring Equipment 13.1%Engineering Systems 12.7%
Livestock carrierPower Propulsion and Steering 45.2%Communication Equipment 9.7%Navigational Monitoring Equipment 9.7%
Oil tankerEngineering Systems 19.6%Vessel Systems 17.45Power Propulsion and Steering 15.3%
Passenger vesselPower Propulsion and Steering 9.4%Engineering Systems 5.6%Vessel Systems 4.4%
OtherPower Propulsion and Steering 18.9%Engineering Systems 14.0%Navigational Monitoring Equipment 9.0%
Vessel Systems 9.0%

Table A11 Persons overboard by vessel type, FF and RAV (2023)

SDASDF

Container vesselPassengerSeafarerOther
Bulk carrier 4 
Container vessel  1
General cargo/ multi-purpose 1 
Other21 
Passenger vessel 1 

Table A12 DCV fatalities by year, state and vessel class, (2018-2023)

StateCrewPassenger
Vessel class2018201920202021202220232019202120222023
NSW
Passenger      1   
Non-passenger   1      
Hire & drive         1
NT
Non-passenger          
Fishing 1 1       
QLD
Non-passenger  1       
Fishing  21  1    
Other         1
TAS
Fishing   11      
WA
Passenger       1  

1 Unintentional POBs only.

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