Statistics and Analysis of Maritime Accidents in Chinese Navigable Waters

Zhaolin Wu & Zhengjiang LIU, Ph.D.

Dalian Maritime University

Abstract

For the purpose of evaluating the maritime safety situation in Chinese navigable waters, statistics and analysis work on maritime accidents occurred in Chinese navigable waters in last ten years has been done in this paper. It presents that the number of maritime accidents steadily decreased while direct economic loss and amount of lives lost fluctuated during the period 1993-2002. In accordance with the analysis, except the human factors, which have been involved in most of major maritime accidents, some other factors (i.e., management of shipping companies, ship conditions, conditions of navigable waters, marine traffic volume, etc.) also played an important role in all those maritime accidents. Based on the results of analysis, some recommendations on measures and policies against the maritime accidents are presented.