Any form of transportation comes with the risk of an accident, and offshore vessels are no exception. Often maritime accidents are more serious than other transport accidents because of the multiple factors involved – vessel malfunction, human error and dangerous weather conditions with rough seas can all contribute to an offshore accident. There are various forms of maritime accidents, all of which can lead to serious injury or death of crew members on board the vessel. In addition, accidents involving oil drilling platforms, for example, can also have a major environmental impact. This article details some of the most common forms of marine accidents and their possible effects.
Offshore oil rigs are probably the most damaging to the environmental if they are involved in an accident. Due to the vast amounts of heavy, complicated machinery on an oil rig as well as the intricate mechanical processes involved in oil drilling, working on an oil rig is a treacherous career. Even small errors and negligence can lead to long-standing oil spills and explosions, such as those caused by the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
In recent years, cruise vessels have also been involved in a number of accidents, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, injured or even dead. Cruise ship accidents are important because of the large number of passengers that they carry, as well as the relatively inexperienced crew members that often work onboard cruise ships as entertainment, chefs or waitrons. Statistics have shown that up to 75 percent of accidents such as fires on board cruise ships are caused by staff error.
Commercial fishing vessels are particularly prone to accidents, due to their tendency to stay out at sea for long periods of time, often in harsh weather conditions. Rough seas can cause fishing boats to capsize and ruin commercial fishing equipment, and even experienced fishermen can sometimes fall overboard when fishing.
Cargo ships and crude oil tankers are also at high risk of accidents, particularly explosions, because of the flammable nature of the materials that they carry. Even minor explosions can set off a chain reaction that has disastrous consequences for the ship and the crew. Crew members on board one of these vessels need to be meticulous about safety precautions and avoiding fire hazards.
Although working offshore comes with all of these hazards, many maritime accidents can be avoided if crew members and vessel owners following stringent safety regulations. With adequate training and proper maintenance of vessels, it is possible for sailors to work safely at sea.
