HELCOM report reveals significant increase in shipping accidents in the Baltic

Helsinki, 28 September (HELCOM) - The number of shipping accidents annually in the Baltic Sea marine area has more than doubled since the beginning of the 21^st century, according to the latest study by the Helsinki Commission. Analysis of the data contained in the latest annual reports provided by the Baltic Sea countries to HELCOM reveals that there were 151 accidents in 2005, 145 in 2004, compared to about 60-70 per year during the period 2000-2003. In 2005, 13 accidents also resulted in small scale pollution, compared to 9 similar cases in the previous year.

"We are experiencing a significant increase in the number of shipping accidents in the Baltic area. It’s a worrisome trend,” says Anne Christine Brusendorff, Executive Secretary of HELCOM. “One possible explanation is that the apparent increase is a result of the new reporting requirements for shipping accidents recently established by HELCOM. Previously not all accidents were reported, but the new system ensures that we now get more complete data. But it’s clear that the rapidly growing maritime traffic in the region could also have contributed to this increase in the number of accidents.”

The study shows that collisions (38%), groundings (36%), technical failures (8%), and fires/explosions (5%) were the most common types of accidents recorded in 2005. The share of groundings has decreased (from 41% in 2004), while the share of collisions has increased (from 27% in 2004). Ship to ship collisions accounted for 60% of all collision cases in 2005 and the rest of cases were collisions with fixed or floating structures, e.g. piers, navigation signs etc.

Cargo vessels (60%), tankers (15%) and passenger ferries (12%) were the main types of vessels involved in accidents. The main reason for accidents was human error (42%), followed by technical factors (23%).

According to the HELCOM Automatic Identification System (AIS) for monitoring maritime traffic, each year around 50 000 ships ply the Baltic Sea area. Although growing traffic is a positive sign of intensified co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and a prospering economy, it also makes shipping accidents causing marine pollution more likely.  

Fortunately, most of the accidents in the Baltic do not cause notable pollution, but even one large-scale accident would seriously threaten the marine environment. Over the period 2000-2005, an average of 8-9% of all reported accidents resulted in some kind of pollution. Two of the five most serious accidents in the Baltic marine area have occurred since 2001 – involving “Baltic Carrier” in 2001 (2 700 tonnes of oil spilt), and “Fu Shan Hai” in 2003 (1 200 tonnes of oil spilt).

Click here to see the map of shipping accidents in 2005.

The full version of the HELCOM report on shipping accidents in 2005 will be released soon.

Note to Editors: 

The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between the countries bordering the sea - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and also the European Community.  

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi