MARINE STATISTICS - 2003

Foreword

This document provides users of Canadian maritime safety data with an annual summary of selected statistics on marine occurrences. It covers commercial vessels which include all vessels registered or licensed to operate commercially. Pleasure craft occurrences are not normally included unless they also involve a commercial vessel.

Users of these statistics are advised that, in a live database, the occurrence data are constantly being updated. Consequently, the statistics can change slightly over time. Further, as many occurrences are not formally investigated, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified. Therefore, caution should be used when utilizing these statistics. The 2003 statistics presented here reflect the TSB database updated as of 15 March 2004.

To enhance awareness and increase the safety value of the material presented in the TSB Statistical Summary, Marine Occurrences 2003, readers are encouraged to copy or reprint the data presented in whole, or in part, for further distribution (with acknowledgements of the source).

The TSB is an independent agency operating under its own Act of Parliament. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety.

Comments on this document can be forwarded to the following address:

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Information Strategies and Analysis Directorate
Place du Centre
200 Promenade du Portage
4th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1K8

Telephone: (819) 994-3741
Facsimile: (819) 997-2239
E-mail: communications@bst-tsb.gc.ca

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2004
Cat. No. TU1-1/2003E-HTML
ISBN 0-662-36759-6

MARINE OCCURRENCES IN 2003

ACCIDENTS

Overview of Accidents and Casualties (Tables 1 and 8 - Appendix A)

In 2003, 546 marine accidents were reported to the TSB, up from the 2002 total of 485 and the 1998-2002 average of 537. Over the past 10 years, 90% of marine accidents have been shipping accidents, while the remainder were accidents aboard ship (see Appendix B - Definitions).

[D]

Shipping accidents totalled 481 in 2003, a 7% increase from the 2002 total of 449 but comparable to the 1998-2002 average of 477. Notwithstanding this increase, statistical analysis using linear regression indicates there has been a significant downward trendl in the number of shipping accidents since 1994 (p<.01) (Figure 1). In 2003, there were 65 accidents aboard ship, compared to 36 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average of 60. The majority of accidents aboard ship occurred on fishing (42%) and cargo/OBO2 (25%) vessels.

Marine-related fatalities reached a 27-year low of 18 in 2003 (Figure 2), down from the 1998-2002 average of 34. Fatalities resulting from shipping accidents (nine) showed a 57% decrease from the 1998-2002 average of 21. Eight of these nine fatalities resulted from fishing vessel accidents, two of which resulted in multiple fatalities. Injuries in 2003 numbered 91, up from the 1998-2002 average of 81. Of these 91 injuries, 60 were serious and all but two were the result of accidents aboard ship.

[D]

Shipping Accidents

Type of Accidents (Table 1): As illustrated in figure 3, the most frequent types of shipping accidents in 2003 were groundings (25%) and strikings (16%). Compared to the five-year average, accidents due to ice damage increased from seven to 28 in 2003. Of these 28, 21 involved fishing vessels in the Newfoundland region, 18 of which were involved in sealing activities. As 2003 was an exceptionally heavy ice year, sealers made more requests for assistance due to ice damage to their vessels in 2003 than in the past. Collisions totalled 24 in 2003, up from the 1998-2002 average of 17. Forty-four percent of vessels involved in collisions over the past five years were fishing vessels, most of which collided with another fishing vessel.

[D]

Type of Vessels (Table 1): In 2004, there were 20,221 fishing vessels in Canada, representing 74% of all registered vessels excluding pleasure crafts (source: Transport Canada). Since 1994, approximately 50% of the vessels involved in shipping accidents have been fishing vessels. In 2003, there were 260 fishing vessels involved in shipping accidents (Figure 4), which represents a 9% increase compared to 2002 and a 4% increase from the 1998-2002 average of 251. After fishing vessels, tugs/barges (12%) and bulk carriers/OBO vessels (9%) were involved most often in shipping accidents. The number of passenger vessels involved in shipping accidents is at a
29-year high of 41, up from 26 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average of 22. However, none of these accidents were fatal. The majority of these passenger vessel accidents involved groundings (32%) and strikings (29%). In 2003, there were 18 cargo vessels involved in accidents, which represents a 22% decrease compared to 2002, and a 31% decrease from the five-year average of 26.

[D]

Geographical Region (Tables 2a and 2b): In 2003, almost three-quarters of shipping accidents occurred in three of the seven geographical regions (Figure 5): the Western region (29%), the Maritimes region (27%) and the Newfoundland region (17%). Fishing vessel accidents dominated the accident record in these coastal waters. Only the Maritimes and Newfoundland regions showed an increase in shipping accidents compared to the 1998-2002 average, from 100 to 129 and 71 to 80 respectively. This increase is mainly accounted for by a rise in the number of fishing vessels involved in shipping accidents in these two regions. The Laurentian and Central regions accounted for 12% and 11% of shipping accidents respectively; within narrower waterways, accidents most often involved larger commercial vessels such as cargo/OBO vessels and tankers. The remaining 4% of shipping accidents took place in foreign waters or in the Arctic region.

[D]

Vessel Flag (Tables 1, 3 and 4): In 2003, 89% of vessels involved in shipping accidents reported to the TSB were Canadian-flag vessels. Fifty-four percent of these were fishing vessels, 35% were commercial non-fishing vessels and the remaining 11% were non-commercial/pleasure craft or service vessels (Figure 6).

[D]

Over the past 10 years, Canadian-flag fishing vessels were involved mostly in groundings (27%), floodings (19%) or fires/explosions (15%). For the same period, Canadian-flag commercial non-fishing vessels were mostly involved in strikings (28%), groundings (21%) or fires/explosions (11%). Marine activity for Canadian commercial non-fishing vessels increased by 10% from the 1998-2002 average, resulting in a 16% decrease in the accident rate from 3.2 to 2.7 accidents per 1000 movements.

In 2003, 57 foreign-flag vessels were involved in shipping accidents in Canadian waters, 82% of which were commercial non-fishing vessels involved mainly in strikings (38%) or groundings (17%). Although marine activity for foreign commercial non-fishing vessels remained relatively unchanged compared to the 1998-2002 average, accidents decreased yielding a 33% reduction in the accident rate from 2.1 to 1.4 accidents per 1000 movements.

Vessels Lost (Tables 1 and 6): In 2003, 34 vessels were reported lost, up from 32 in 2002, but lower than the 1998-2002 average of 43. Of the vessels lost in 2003, three were commercial vessels, 28 were fishing vessels, and three were pleasure crafts. Approximately one-third of vessels lost in 2003 were 15 tons or less in gross tonnage (grt)3, and one-quarter were 30 years old or more. During the past 10 years, small fishing vessels (less than 15 grt) have accounted for the largest proportion of vessels lost in Canada.

INCIDENTS

Overview of Incidents (Tables 1, 2a and 2b)

Pursuant to mandatory reporting requirements, 221 marine incidents were reported to the TSB in 2003, up from the 2002 total of 174 and the 1998-2002 average of 201. This increase is due in part to the higher number of close-quarters situations which totalled 60 in 2003, up from 29 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average of 44. Two-thirds of close-quarters situations in 2003 took place in the Western region, up slightly from the 1998-2002 average proportion of 58%. Vessels most often involved in close-quarters situations over the past five years were non-commercial (23%) and fishing (19%) vessels. In the majority of these incidents, the other vessels involved were cargo/OBOs, ferries, tugs and passsenger vessels.

In 2003, West Coast incidents represented 43% of all marine incidents, equal to the 1998-2002 average. The proportion of marine incidents which took place in other regions was as follows: Central 10%, the Maritimes 15%, Laurentian 22% and Newfoundland 8%. The remaining 2% of reported incidents took place in foreign waters or in the Arctic region.

Please refer to the Table of Contents for other sections of this summary.

---

1 It is agreed by convention that for a result to be considered statistically significant, its probability must be lower than 1 in 20 (i.e., p<.05).

2 Oil/Bulk/Ore Carrier (OBO). See Appendix B.

3 The majority of vessels classified under unknown tonnage were vessels of 15 tons or less in gross tonnage.