Page 12 - INTERCARGO - Bulk Carrier Casualty Report 2024

SUMMARY

21 bulk carriers (of over 10,000 dwt ) have been identified as
1
total losses for the years 2014 to 2023.
2

Year 10k-34,999 dwt 35k-49,999 dwt 50k-59,999 dwt 60k-79,999 dwt 80k+ dwt Total
2014 1 1 0 0 0 2
2015 2 0 1 2 0 5
2016 0 1 0 0 2 3
2017 0 0 1 0 1 2
2018 0 0 1 0 0 1
2019 0 0 1 0 0 1
2020 0 0 0 0 2 2
2021 1 1 0 0 0 2
2022 1 1 0 0 0 2
2023 1 0 0 0 0 1
Total 6 4 4 2 5 21

Total losses - bulk carriers by size and year
3

Significant findings

• 80,000+ dwt: Six ships were lost, accounting for 23.8% of the
total 21 casualties reported. These casualties cost 22 lives, or

24.7% of the total 89 lives lost during the period. In 2020 the
losses of one Capesize and one VLOC vessel (Wakashio and
Stellar Banner) focused attention on large bulk carrier safety.
• The lowest number of casualties occurred in the 60,000-79,999
dwt range, representing 9.5% of the total of 21 ship losses, with

no fatalities. There was no life lost as a consequence of those ship
losses.
• Other categories saw the loss of six ships with significant loss of

life as a result. The 50,000-59,999 dwt range accounted for 55
seafarers’ lives, (61.8% of the total), and 12 fatalities in the 10,000-
34,999 dwt range.

1 A 9,999 dwt cement carrier was included as an exceptional case for this report.

2 This document provides information on casualty data related to bulk carriers
above 10,000 dwt. INTERCARGO’s classification of ship casualties follows the same
principles used in IMO’s classification on GISIS. The assumed definitions of vessel
sizes used in this report are for continuity and easier comparison with past reports.
3 These arbitrary size ranges are used for easy comparison with past reports.
12