The industry recognises that 80 per cent of all accidents at sea are caused by human error. This is hardly surprising when the crew are overworked, underpaid and inadequately rested and when shipowners can avoid training crew in safety practices and recruit crew members who cannot communicate with each other. ITF inspections, and others carried out by the Port State Control Authorities confirm that many seafarers don't even get enough food and clean drinking water. They often report instances where food is in short supply or infested. Unprotected Poor safety practices and unsafe ships make seafaring the most dangerous of all occupations - it is estimated that there are over 2,000 deaths a year at sea.
Accidents are frequent.
Falling down open hatches, severed limbs, scalds and burns and other injuries to seafarers are often not treated sympathetically by FOC shipowners. The delivery of cargoes and the costs of any delay are their only concerns. The ITF handles many cases every year where adequate medical assistance has not been given. Some injured seafarers have been abandoned ashore, or removed from costly hospitals to be sent home for cheaper, often inadequate treatment. Even worse, seafarers on their own have little chance of winning compensation.