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Insight report on safety in the passenger ferry industry

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Report reveals ferry accidents are closely linked to economic conditions, the value placed on human life, and the social attitudes of both operators and passengers.

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Executive Summary

The global passenger ferry industry has averaged more than 1,000 fatalities per year since the 1960s, with the great majority occurring on domestic voyages in Asia and Africa.

From 1966 to 2015 there were 750 recorded fatal accidents involving passenger vessels, resulting in 59,600 fatalities. Ninety-three per cent of ferry accidents occurred during domestic voyages, with 90% of fatalities occurring in just 20 countries and 76% in 10.

Lloyd's Register Foundation identified passenger ferry safety as a challenge in its insight report on global safety challenges, in 2017. Since then, the Foundation has investigated further to better understand the issue. It has drawn on expert knowledge and opinion to determine what activity is already underway to improve safety, what is further needed, and to explore if there is a unique role for the Foundation in line with its charitable mission.

The investigation has focused on establishing or confirming:

  • the countries or locations where the most fatalities are occurring
  • the predominant causes of accidents in these countries
  • the practical measure(s) which could save the most lives.

Key findings

  • The highest numbers of fatalities have occurred in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
  • Globally, the causes of ferry accidents are related to the economic status, value placed on life and social outlook of the operators and passengers in the countries where the incidents occurred.
  • A non-profit, ferry-operator funded organisation dedicated to improving ferry safety should be established. The initial operational area will be the three countries experiencing the most fatalities, but the long-term intention is to offer safety services globally. The initial step in each location where the organisation operates will be to identify the specific local situation and scope of activity.
  • Partnerships with like-minded organisations and local representation will be crucial to success. Connections will be made with key stakeholders such as owners, governments, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO), flag authorities, IACS (International Association of Classification Societies), crew unions and the general public.
  • The network of safety experts who contributed to the work should be supported and expanded. This will be facilitated by the establishment of a platform from which they can share expertise, experience, knowledge and good practice and engage with policy makers, industry and the wider public on safety issues in the industry.

Citation

If you wish to use and reference the Insight Report on Safety in the Passenger Ferry Industry, please include the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.60743/vjaj-h778

Example Citation in Harvard Style:

Lloyd's Register Foundation (2018) Insight Report on Safety in the Passenger Ferry Industry. Lloyd's Register Foundation. doi: 10.60743/VJAJ-H778.
 

Download the Insight Report

Insight Report on Safety in the Passenger Ferry Industry

The Lloyd's Register Foundation identified passenger ferry safety as a challenge in its Insight report on global safety challenges, in 2017. Since then The Foundation has investigated further to better understand the issue. (PDF, 1.60MB)