The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (UK MAIB) released its 2024 annual report, revealing that the agency received 1,515 reports of marine casualties and incidents involving UK-flagged vessels or ships in UK coastal waters.
Captain Andrew Moll (OBE), Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, noted that at the beginning of 2024, MAIB had a backlog of 41 investigations. This historically high workload severely impacted progress. To address this, the agency intensified its screening of independent investigation projects, particularly encouraging foreign flag state authorities to take the lead in investigations for accidents occurring in UK waters when appropriate.
By reducing the number of newly initiated investigations (20 reports published in 2024, up from 10 in 2023), the backlog has gradually been cleared. The agency plans to release another 20 reports in 2025, with investigation cycles now shortening. The safety recommendation acceptance rate in 2024 was 85%, lower than 2023 but still within a reasonable range. However, as highlighted last year, some recipients of recommendations remain unable to commit to specific timelines for implementing corrective measures.
Major collisions and groundings involving merchant vessels show no signs of decline. The fatal collision between the *Scot Carrier* and *Karin Hoj* exposed issues with poor adherence to watchkeeping standards. Meanwhile, the collision between the *Scot Explorer* and *Happy Falcon*, the fatal collision of the *Verity* and *Polesie*, and the tragic incident earlier this year where the *Solo* violently struck the anchored vessel *Stena Perfect* all highlight the need to reconsider the role of human watchkeeping in the digital age.
Humans are not well-suited for sustained monitoring and are prone to distraction in low-stimulus environments. Yet, as MAIB’s safety study on the application and usability of electronic chart systems revealed, watchkeepers are often reluctant to use system features that could warn of potential hazards. MAIB will delve deeper into this phenomenon in future investigations.
In 2024, three formal investigations and one preliminary assessment were launched into UK fishing vessel sinkings. Fortunately, none resulted in fatalities, but multiple flooding incidents last year underscored the vulnerability of fishing vessels to water ingress—most UK fishing vessels lack watertight compartmentalization, meaning flooding can quickly overwhelm pump capacity and lead to loss of control. In such cases, timely alarms and well-practiced abandon-ship drills can save lives.
Equally concerning are occupational accidents causing injuries and deaths. In 2024, two fishing vessel crew members died in accidents, matching 2020 as the lowest annual fatality count in the past decade. However, both deaths occurred on vessels with adequate crew, exposing safety flaws in work systems. Future MAIB reports will focus on shifting from “completing risk assessments” to “proactive risk management.”
