Shipping is the lifeblood of the global economy, transporting approximately 90% of global trade. There are over 50,000 merchant ships trading internationally[i], carrying every kind of cargo, so the safety of vessels is critical. The maritime industry saw the number of total shipping losses remain stable during 2017, declining slightly to 94 – the second lowest total over the past  decade.

Losses were down 4% compared with a year earlier (98) – current figures show a significant improvement on the 10-year loss average (113) – down 17%. Over the past decade, total losses have declined by more than a third (38%), driven by improved ship design, technology and advances in risk management and safety. Recent lower shipping activity is also a factor.

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