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Consequences to vessels

Over half (55.1%) of marine incidents in 2022 included a vessel consequence outcome. The three most frequently occurring consequences on DCVs in 2022 were collisions, groundings and contacts (with something other than a vessel) (Figure 9, Table A5).  

Figure 9 Top 5 vessel incident consequences by year (2019-2022)
Figure 9 Top 5 vessel incident consequences by year (2019-2022)


In 2022:

  • Collisions, groundings and/or contacts accounted for 54.3% (75) of the total very serious and serious (138) incidents involving consequences to a vessel. This represents a 4.3% decrease from the proportion in 2021 (58.6%) (Figure 10).
  • Grounding incident reports increased by 52.1% from 2021(Figure 9) and comprised the majority of serious vessel consequences (Figure 10).

The most frequently reported consequence across all severity levels for each vessel class in 2022 were (Table A5):

  • Passenger: Contact (26.0%)
  • Non-passenger: Contact (25.2%)
  • Fishing: Foundering/sinking/loss (20.5%)
  • Hire and drive: Collision (42.3%) 

Figure 10 shows the vessel consequence type for very serious and serious incidents by vessel class. 

Figure 10 Top 10 vessel consequences for serious and very serious incidents by vessel class (2022)
Figure 10 Top 10 vessel consequences for serious and very serious incidents by vessel class (2022)


Consistent with crew injury incidents, shortfalls in the control and navigation of a vessel were reported in 46.3% (285) of vessel consequence incidents, followed by 19.6 % (124) for weather/water conditions and 12.7% (74) for power, propulsion and steering failures. 

Figure 11 Shortfalls associated with vessel consequence incidents by incident severity (2022)
Figure 11 Shortfalls associated with vessel consequence incidents by incident severity (2022)


There were 8 very serious DCV incidents in 2022 all involving very serious consequences to the vessel resulting in a total loss or being lost at sea (Table 5).

Table 5 Very serious incident vessel consequence and circumstance (2022)

Vessel type

Consequence/s

Incident circumstances

Non-passenger

Foundering/Sinking/Loss

Environment: Weather

Non-passenger

Hull failure/Damage & Foundering/Sinking/Loss

Vessel systems: Mooring / Anchoring

Non-passenger

Explosion

Engineering systems: Electrical (Batteries)

Fishing

Foundering/Sinking/Loss 

Evacuation

Structure: Integrity

Fishing

Foundering/Sinking/Loss Crew POB (Survived)

Environment: Weather

Fishing

Fire Machinery/Work Space

Unknown13

Hire and drive

Foundering/Sinking/Loss

Maintenance: Enclosed space

Vessel systems: Other (Potable water system)

Hire and drive

Foundering/Sinking/Loss

Power Propulsion and Steering: Steering Gear

Vessel Control and Navigation: Vessel Handling/Loss of Control

Footnotes

13Vessel lost. Unable to determine seat of fire.