Decreased frequency of sunken freighters in global waters
Last year, the number of collapsed cargo vessels on the world's seas reduced compared to previous years. Insured Allianz revealed in an analysis on Wednesday that only 26 cargoships sank, in contrast to 41 in 2022, and an average of over 70 per year during the past decade.
The reason behind 60% of last year's accidents was attributed to accidents that led to the ships sinking. 8 of these freighters were lost because of severe weather conditions. In addition, last year witnessed a total of 205 fires on board these cargo ships. Over the past 5 years, a total of 55 ships have been destroyed due to blazes.
Despite the declining figures, insurers are cautious as they highlight emerging threats to maritime traffic. Pirates from Somalia seized the freighter "MV Ruen" in December 2023. Yemen Houthi rebels are also a problem, having repeatedly been at loggerheads with tanker ships in the Red Sea, linked to the Middle East conflict.
One of the most significant potential hazards is the "Russian ghost fleet", acting on behalf of Russia to bypass Western sanctions due to its aggression against Ukraine. They estimate that between 600 and 1400 ships are involved in gas and oil trade for Russia. Most of these tankers are old and operate without radar or insurance.
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Cargo ships faced fewer sinkings in the oceans last year, with only 26 collapsing compared to 41 in 2022 and an average of over 70 per year in the past decade. However, the decreased frequency does not necessarily mean fewer risks, as emerging threats like piracy and the Russian ghost fleet continue to pose challenges in the maritime industry.
Source: www.ntv.de
