Britannia P&I Club report reveals 81% of crew deaths are from illnesses, primarily cardiovascular diseases, highlighting urgent health concerns.
The new crew compensation report from Britannia P&I Club reveals the extent of health risks faced by seafarers. According to the report, which examined approximately 3,000 crew compensation claims from the 2023/24 and 2024/25 policy years, 81% of crew deaths were due to illnesses, while only 19% were caused by injuries.
The report highlighted cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of deaths among seafarers. Heart and vascular disorders accounted for 58% of illness-related crew deaths.
Jacob Damgaard, Head of Loss Prevention at Britannia P&I Club, pointed out that maritime safety is often assessed primarily through accidents and operational incidents, noting that the loss data presents a different picture.
Damgaard emphasized that a significant portion of crew deaths is linked to illnesses, particularly cardiovascular diseases, stressing the need for greater focus on the long-term health of seafarers and the prevention of diseases.
According to the report, illnesses constituted 60% of all examined crew compensation claims. Injuries accounted for 36%, while deaths represented 4%.
These data indicate that measures taken solely against accident risks in ship operations are insufficient, and the long-term health and well-being of the crew should also be central to safety policies.
Another notable topic in the report was the mental health of seafarers. It was found that suicide and cases of going missing at sea disproportionately affected young seafarers.
While the number of cases was noted to be relatively low, Britannia reported that a similar trend was observed in a broader four-year data set. According to the club, this situation underscores the importance of targeted mental health support and early intervention mechanisms, particularly for young seafarers.
The report also revealed that traditional operational risks in the maritime sector continue to persist. Hand and finger injuries accounted for 27% of injury-related compensation claims, making them the most common type of injury.
It was determined that more than one-third of injury-related deaths were linked to falling overboard incidents. This finding once again highlights the importance of measures taken against falls during work on board and the use of personal protective equipment.
While abdominal disorders constituted the largest category of illness-related compensation claims, dehydration-related kidney stones emerged as a significant health risk for seafarers working in hot environments.
Britannia P&I Club stated that the findings in the report emphasize the importance of effective risk assessment, safe manual handling practices, strong communication, and regular use of personal protective equipment.
The overall picture in the report indicates that the concept of 'safety' in the maritime sector should not be limited to accident prevention. Developing a more comprehensive approach to crew welfare, addressing issues from cardiovascular health to mental health, working conditions, and long-term disease risks, is becoming increasingly critical.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
