Those errors and omissions discovered are being corrected in an on going improvement process. We also know that although reporting of casualties is improving, we realize that not all casualties are reported to the Coast Guard. MSO Honolulu has been striving with the maritime and ocean user community to improve reporting of casualties. By improving the reporting, we will all get a better idea of past problem areas. Foreign vessel means a vessel of foreign registry or operated under the authority of a country other than the United States.
Passenger vessel means a vessel that carries passengers for hire.
Public vessel means a vessel that is owned or chartered and operated by the United States Government or a government of a foreign country and is not engaged in commercial service. Tankship means a vessel constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil or hazardous material in bulk in the cargo spaces. The chart above displays, by year, a breakdown of the total 56 casualties reported to the Coast Guard during the period of 1995-1997. One interesting note is that there was a slight increase in casualties during 1996, which later decreased to slightly above 1995 levels. If casualties continue to decrease in 1998 this positive effect may be attributed to industry wide efforts to institute comprehensive risk management based decisions.