Less Ship Groundings in the Baltic

4 September 2012 (HELCOM Information Services) – The number of ship groundings in the Baltic Sea has dropped again according to the latest HELCOM study on shipping accidents. While the Baltic continues to be one of the busiest seas in the world, the number of accidents has not increased proportionately. In particular, the trend of less grounding has continued for several years.

Analysis of the data in the latest annual report on shipping accidents provided by the nine Member States to HELCOM, reveals that there was a slight decrease from last year with total of 121 ship accidents in the Baltic marine area in 2011. However, the number of groundings has clearly dropped. The 30 groundings in 2011 is 6 (17%) less than in 2010 and up to 50% less compared to 2008.

“As grounding, a potentially very serious accident, has been the most common accident type on average during the ten year period 2002-2011, the decrease is good news for the Baltic Sea. This is  one indication of safer navigation in the region,” says Hermanni Backer, Professional Secretary for maritime and oil response issues at HELCOM.  

Ship-to-ship collisions remain a concern

Collisions were the second most common type of accidents, and they accounted for over one third of all reported cases (42 accidents, or 35%). An increase in ship to ship collisions has been seen in 2010 and 2011 accounting for 50% of all collisions. Collisions with fixed orfloating structures, e.g. peers, navigation signs etc. are however showing a decreasing trend since 2009.

Within the two usual collision hot spots in the Baltic, the collisions increased in the south-western Baltic Sea and decreased in the Gulf of Finland.

Cargo vessels most prone to accidents

Most accidents in the Baltic Sea occur very close to shore or in harbours, which was also the case in 2011. Cargo vessels are the largest group of ships involved in the total number of accidents (52%), followed by passenger vessels (20%). Tankers were involved in 13% of the accidents. As during previous years, the human factor was  again the main cause of accidents 50% of the incidents reported in 2011.

Busy traffic involves risk of pollution

According to the HELCOM Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, vessels entered or left the Baltic Sea via Skaw 63,312 times last year. This number has increased by 23% since 2006.

In 2002-2011 on an average 7% of the reported accidents ended up with some kind of pollution. In 2011, this percentage was slightly higher at 9%.

Even if such incidents are usually minor they highlight the latent risks of more serious pollution. The preparedness for a joint operation in case of a major accident at sea is practiced every year within the HELCOM Balex Delta exercises. This year’s exercise engaged around 500 persons and 70 vessels last week in Helsinki, Finland.

HELCOM report on shipping accidents in 2011:
http://www.helcom.fi/stc/files/shipping/shipping_accidents_2011.pdf

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Note to Editors:

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organisation of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution.

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

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Hermanni Backer

Professional Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)46 850 9199

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 645

E-mail: hermanni.backer@helcom.fi

Mr. Johanna Laurila

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0) 40 523 8988

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 645

E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi