Norwegian marine insurer Gard has released its third Crew Claims Report, revealing that a significant portion of seafarer injuries are sustained during routine operations onboard vessels. The study, which analyzed approximately 3,000 P&I (Protection and Indemnity) crew claims from 2025 and conducted a detailed review of about 400 injury cases, found that even experienced crew members performing familiar tasks are susceptible to accidents.
This finding suggests that the root causes often lie in factors beyond inexperience, such as complacency, inadequate risk assessment for repetitive tasks, or environmental conditions during routine work. The report emphasizes that while major incidents often capture headlines, the cumulative impact of injuries from everyday tasks remains a critical concern for maritime safety.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this information underscores the importance of carrier safety records and crew welfare programs. While not directly impacting rates or capacity, a high incidence of crew injuries can lead to operational delays, increased insurance costs for carriers, and potential disruptions to vessel schedules if crew changes or medical evacuations are required. This highlights the indirect but significant link between crew safety and supply chain reliability.
The report implicitly calls for enhanced safety protocols, continuous training, and a culture of vigilance even for seemingly mundane shipboard activities to mitigate these persistent risks.
