Everyone must come home from work at sea – New Norwegian Initiative

The Norwegian government has established a zero vision for deaths and seriously injured at sea in a new maritime initiative

39 deaths from commercial vessels in the last five years

A total of 39 people has died from commercial vessels in the last five years. The death rate for seafaring in general, and fishing in particular, is significantly higher than for comparable occupations on land. Figures from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate show that 7 people died in connection with commercial vessels in 2022 and more than 450 were injured in accidents.

Decided

Commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has already provided an academic basis for a zero vision. The government has now adopted the zero vision, and the directorate is tasked with continuing to work on measures that will result in a concrete action plan. This shall apply to all vessels under the directorate’s administrative and supervisory responsibility.  

“The action plan must contain concrete measures that must be feasible and effective. I am happy that a unanimous Storting is behind this work,” says Skjæran.

Happy to receive the assignment

The work on the action plan will take place in collaboration with other public and private actors.

“The Norwegian Maritime Directorate is pleased to receive the task of developing an action plan for a zero vision from the government. A zero vision will help to increase maritime safety, so that even more people get home safely from work or leisure activities at sea. We look forward to working closely with the industry and other authorities to get this in place,” says shipping director Knut Arild Hareide.

“We have long traditions in Norway to cooperate well across the public sector, organizational life and voluntary actors,” says Skjæran.

Leisure boats

While the number of deaths involving commercial vessels has been relatively stable in recent years, there has been a significant increase in deaths involving recreational vessels compared to the past. 34 people lost their lives in recreational boats in 2022, compared to 26 in 2021. In the recreational boating area, there is already a zero vision for fatalities and serious injuries and an action plan that runs from 2019-2023.

“The work on revising the action plan will naturally be seen in connection with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate’s other zero vision work,” says the minister.  

Death by drowning

Many people also die every year as a result of drowning, not just from boats. This is something the government takes seriously.

“One life lost to drowning is one too many, and in the Hurdal platform it is stated that the Government must work with prevention to prevent drowning. Together with the ministers concerned, I have initiated work to assess a zero vision for all drownings, not just related to the use of boats,” says Skjæran.

Facts:

 The statistics for deaths at sea in the last five years: (Source: Norwegian Maritime Directorate)

Here is an overview of incidents – accidents and near misses, personal accidents and ship accidents with the various vessel types in the last five years: (Source: Norwegian Maritime Directorate)

Source: Press Release