Even in this modern age of aeroplanes and helicopters, we still rely heavily on the sea for transportation of goods. Cargo ships, oil tankers and fishing vessels still ply the waves around the world daily. Additionally, approximately 30% of the world’s oil supply comes from offshore exploration meaning a huge number of rigs, production platforms and support vessels are operating at sea.
As with any industry involving complex machinery and human interaction, accidents can, and frequently do, occur. In most instances, the root cause of casualties and incidents at sea occur due to the failure of machines, tools, systems or equipment, weather and human error. Mistakes made by workers and operators play a major role in maritime accidents, with complex investigations needed to unravel the chain of events leading to an incident. While an incident may be brief, it can leave lasting impacts, not just on the people involved, but also on the environment and ecosystem.
Common Sources of Maritime Accidents
- Accidents on Offshore Oil Rigs & Installations: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico was an accident involving an oil rig. Offshore oil & gas exploration utilises a great deal of heavy equipment and complex work processes. Even a minor issue, or negligence of a single work process can lead to massive catastrophic incidents.
- Accidents on Crude Oil Tankers: The main cause of accidents on oil tankers is fire or explosions. The nature of the materials transported by tankers is dangerous and highly flammable, making it easier for an explosion to occur. According to statistics the biggest cause of these incidents on oil tankers is due to worker negligence.
