Illness now kills more seafarers than accidents, led by heart disease

A new report from Britannia P&I Club reveals that illness, particularly cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of seafarer fatalities, surpassing accidents. Illness accounted for 81 percent of crew deaths, while injuries caused only 19 percent. Cardiovascular conditions alone were responsible for 58 percent of illness-related deaths, making them the single biggest cause of fatalities in an analysis of nearly 3,000 crew claims. The report also highlights a concerning trend of mental health issues, with suicides and missing-at-sea incidents disproportionately affecting younger seafarers. The analysis, covering the 2023/24 and 2024/25 policy years, found illnesses comprised 60 percent of all crew claims. Hand and finger injuries were the most common onboard injury, while over one-third of injury-related fatalities involved man overboard incidents. Abdominal conditions led illness claims, with dehydration-linked kidney stones a notable concern in hot environments.