Nautilus has backed a call from the International Maritime Organisation\u2019s leader for the seafarer death rate to be halved over the next two years.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening of the IMO\u2019s first meeting of the year, secretary-general Koji Sekimizu told delegates that his vision to halve the number of lives lost at sea should be a legitimate target for the United Nations agency and for the shipping industry.<\/p>\n
\u2018The current level is over 1,000,\u2019 he pointed out. \u2018We should aim at below 500. You may say \u201cOne life lost is too many\u201d. I would say, \u201cIf one is too many, then 1,000 is astronomical and 500 is still too many\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Sekimizu said IMO statistics showed that a total of 1,051 lives were lost at sea during 2012 \u2014 of which 100 were in the fishing sector, 400 in domestic operations and 500 in other categories, including international shipping.<\/p>\n
Both the annual death rate and the proportions of fatalities in each sector were broadly similar over the past five years, he added, with the IMO data showing 1,095 deaths in 2011, 1,501 in 2010, 2,395 in 2009 and 1,942 in 2008.<\/p>\n
But, he admitted, the figures \u2014 which are developed on the basis of officially and unofficially reported casualties \u2014 are \u2018neither accurate nor comprehensive\u2019. The difficulties in obtaining reliable data suggests that the IMO should set up an official system to collect and collate casualty information, he added.<\/p>\n
The IMO leader acknowledged that it would be \u2018very difficult\u2019 to reach that target of halving lives lost. \u2018That requires collective efforts to cover all sectors of maritime activities, covering fishing vessels, domestic and river ferries and international shipping,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018We should employ all available forces and make every effort to reduce casualties and I will take every available step to promote safety in order to achieve this ambitious but achievable target.\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Sekimizu suggested that action to implement measures to improve the safety of fishing vessels and domestic ferries would make a major contribution to reducing fatalities. The IMO was also working with the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities to develop an \u2018accident zero\u2019 campaign to improve safety at sea.<\/p>\n
Nautilus senior national secretary Allan Graveson, who attended the meeting, commented: The secretary-general is to be commended for a very courageous statement. This is a great aspiration, but unless there are fundamental changes in the safety culture of the industry such a target could take more than a generation to attain.<\/p>\n
\u2018Nautilus is concerned that there are many entrenched and complex problems that need to be tackled if the death toll is to be reduced by this sort of level,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
\u2018Analysis of the death and injury statistics show that many incidents should be preventable \u2013 such as slips, trips and falls \u2014 but concerted attention needs to be paid to fundamental issues such as design, ergonomics and equipment.<\/p>\n
\u2018Similarly, well known problems such as fatigue deserve to be treated much more seriously than they are at present if there is to be any meaningful advance.\u2019<\/p>\n