(3) Type of vessel involved
In terms of the type of vessel, marine accidents involving cargo ships amounted to 3,100 in 1998 and accounted for the largest share of the year's total at 38.1%. This was followed by accidents involving fishing vessels at 1,438, or 17.7% of the total; accidents involving oil carriers at 1,000, or 12.3% of the total; and accidents involving passenger ships at 707, or 8.7% of the total. Accidents involving cargo ships were down 358, from 3,458 in 1997, a larger decline than was seen in any other category.
Fig. 2-1-5 Marine accidents by type of vessel involved
(4) Fatalities and injuries
Fatalities and injuries in 1998 amounted to 537 people, down 36 from 573 in 1997. (Missing persons are also included in this category here and elsewhere in this report.) The number of killed or missing persons was 214, an increase of 32, from 182 in the previous year, while the number injured totaled 323, down 68 from 391 in 1997, of which 95 were injured passengers, on a par with the 1997 total of 94.
The number of crew members killed or injured in 1998 was 350, or 65.2% of total fatalities and injuries, of which fatalities and missing persons accounted for 214, or 85.5%.
Two categories of accident saw sharp increases in fatalities and injuries in 1998. Of a total of 176 people involved in collisions, 150 were killed or injured. Two types of vessel also saw noticeable rises, with 229 people killed or injured in accidents involving fishing vessels and 110 in accidents involving pleasure craft.
