Accidents at sea: one in three is a collision, grounding, or collision while sailing
STB Italia has compiled its usual 2024 nautical accident report. In addition to collisions, damage from severe weather is a concern. However, there were no accidents at shipyards.
As is the case every year, STB Italia's analysis of nautical accidents offers a valuable overview of the state of safety at sea and in Italian ports. The 2024 data confirms substantial stability in the number and type of accidents compared to previous years, with some noteworthy variations.
In total, 2024 saw 428 claims handled, a slight increase from 399 in 2023 and 417 in 2022. This figure suggests substantial stability in Italian nautical claims, but also calls for a reflection on maritime safety and prevention, from crew training to vessel maintenance and route planning.
Leading the ranking of accident causes are, once again, collisions (124) and groundings or collisions at sea (126), both accounting for 29% of the total reported cases. These numbers indicate how the growing traffic and the unpredictability of the sea require constant attention to maneuvers and navigation planning, even if the record number of collisions was in 2021, with 153 episodes, 42% of the accidents that occurred that year.
Despite technological progress and increasingly widespread assistance systems on board, collisions totalled 124 episodes (29%) in 2024, compared to 126 in 2023. At the same time, groundings and collisions at sea recorded 126 cases (29%), a slight increase compared to 110 the previous year.
Severe weather claims remain a constant in the marine insurance landscape, with 57 cases in 2024, or 13% of the total. This figure remains in line with 2023 and confirms how unpredictable and potentially dangerous marine weather remains for shipowners and captains. In 2022, however, there were 88 cases.
Sinking and flooding occurred 13 times (3%), confirming the levels of previous years and signaling a slight increase compared to the previous two years, with 11 cases in 2023 and 8 in 2022. Engine damage, on the other hand, stood at 6%, with 24 reported accidents, data that reflect the increasing wear and tear of the vehicles and, at times, poor preventative maintenance.
Dockside collisions also remained significant, with 32 cases, or 7% of the total. This phenomenon demonstrates the difficulty of maneuvering in the confined spaces of marinas, which are often crowded, especially during the summer months. In 2024, no damage was recorded on the shipyard or during transport; the year before, there were only 2.
Less frequent but still significant events include lightning damage, with 17 episodes, 4%, while in 2023 there were only 8; thefts (4) and fires (4), which each represent approximately 1% of the reported accidents.
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