Work-related mortality among British seafarers employed in flags of convenience shipping, 1976-95

Abstract

Objective: To establish and analyse the causes and circumstances of all deaths among British seafarers who were working in flags of convenience merchant shipping between 1976 and 1995, to compare mortality with British seafarers employed in British merchant shipping, and to discuss implications for health and safety.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study of occupational mortality, based on official mortality files.

Results: Out of a total of 200 deaths in flags of convenience shipping, illnesses caused 68 deaths, accidents 91, homicide 3, suicide 7, drug and alcohol intoxication 4, and disappearances at sea and other unknown causes 27. Deaths from non-natural causes and, in particular, maritime disasters accounted for a significantly higher proportion of all deaths in flags of convenience than in British shipping. The maritime disasters largely involved small cargo ships foundering or disappearing in bad weather.

Conclusions: Although mortality rates could not be calculated, because of the unavailability of population information, British seafarers who work for flags of convenience registries appear to be at increased risk of mortality through maritime disasters, as well as through occupational accidents and suicide. Many of the occupational accidents, such as asphyxiation in cargo holds, were caused by hazardous working practices, and the disappearances of small cargo ships raises questions about their seaworthiness. Future efforts should focus on investigating the mortality and health of seafarers working in flags of convenience ships, and on improving mortality and population information systems for these registries.