News Hound

A clear uptick in casualties in 2024, driven by machinery damage/failure and an ageing fleet, stands out in the latest analysis of Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty data.

The number of maritime casualties rose by 15% in 2024. Coupled with a 7% rise in casualties in 2023, this represents a concerning development for the maritime industry, particularly with the global fleet growing at a considerably slower rate. This trend has now been established for several years. While the overall number of incidents declined by 5% be tween 2014 and 2018, the figure has increased every year since. Between 2018 and 2024, the number of incidents increased by 42%. Over the same period, the number of vessels in the global fleet increased by 10%. Continue reading “Ageing fleet driving increase in incidents”

West P&I Club has published a loss prevention bulletin addressing the issue of cargo contamination claims and highlights best practices on sampling procedures.

According to West, cargo contamination claims are a major risk for tanker operators, often resulting in expensive disputes. Properly taken, sealed, and stored samples are essential to prove cargo quality at the time of loading. As tanker cargoes are loaded through closed systems, pre-loading inspection is not possible. Samples are the shipowner’s main defence in off-spec claims as they provide critical evidence to identify when and where contamination occurred, reducing claim costs and response time. Continue reading “Best practices on sampling procedures”