Maritime Worker Injury Statistics

Maritime workers perform some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. labor force. From cargo handling to long voyages aboard general cargo ships or fishing vessels, maritime worker injury statistics reveal this workplace is filled with hazards that put crew members at constant risk. 

At IL Work Injury Lawyer, we represent injured maritime workers and their families across Illinois who are navigating the aftermath of these dangerous events. Whether the injury happened on a ship, dock, or while engaged in maritime work along the inland waterways, our firm understands the complexities of maritime law, including how protections like the Jones Act and other state and federal statutes apply.

Maritime Industry Injuries and Fatalities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, data between 2011 and 2017 reveal valuable insights into injury and fatality risks across various sectors of the maritime industry. 

Commercial Diving

Unsurprisingly, commercial diving stands out as the most hazardous, with a staggering fatality rate of 158.9 per 100,000 workers, the highest in the maritime sector by far. 

Although the industry employs only about 3,500 workers, the nature of the work performed in confined spaces, under pressure, and often in remote locations means even small errors can lead to fatal accidents or severe injuries. The nonfatal injury rate is also significant at 1,867.4 per 100,000 workers, indicating that even survivors often suffer serious physical injuries.

Commercial Fishing

With a fatality rate of 93.0, commercial fishing far exceeds the national average for all industries. Yet interestingly, its nonfatal injury rate is comparatively low at 441.8, suggesting that when occupational accidents do occur in this line of work, they are often fatal or go unreported due to the nature of remote sea operations and minimal access to medical treatment.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture workers also face heightened danger, with a fatality rate of 18.9 and a high nonfatal injury rate of 5,237.4. This combination highlights the sector’s unique blend of physical labor, prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions, and equipment-related risks, especially during feeding or harvesting operations in offshore pens or tanks. 

Marine Terminals

In terms of marine terminals and port operations, where nearly 100,000 workers are employed, the data reveals a fatality rate of 15.9 and a nonfatal injury rate of 4,916.0. This is especially concerning given the volume of daily activity in U.S. ports, where tasks like forklift operation and crane work are routine. 

Water Transportation

Water transportation, which includes crewed vessel operation for cargo or passengers, reports a fatality rate of 18.4 and a nonfatal injury rate of 2,326.7. This data reflects the significant risks involved in long-duration voyages, shifting weather conditions, and heavy machinery operation. 

General Cargo Ship and Boat Building

Meanwhile, ship and boat building, a larger sector employing over 160,000 maritime workers, reports a much lower fatality rate of 4.0, but a very high nonfatal injury rate of 5,369.8, indicating frequent work-related injuries that are not typically fatal, but still potentially disabling.

Seafood Processing

Interestingly, seafood processing, employing nearly 37,000 workers, has a relatively moderate fatality rate of 6.3, but the highest illness and nonfatal injury rate of all sectors, at 6,670.2 per 100,000 workers. This reflects repetitive motion injuries, equipment-related injuries, and risks related to cold, wet, and fast-paced environments. 

Statistics on Maritime Occupational Injuries

A comprehensive study analyzing 505 maritime occupational accident cases between 2013 and 2021 offers one of the most detailed analyses to date on the causes and consequences of workplace injuries at sea. 

Using statistical modeling and a Tree-Augmented Naive Bayesian Network (TAN-BN), the researchers identified 17 key risk factors contributing to accidents. These included human factors, ship-specific characteristics, and environmental conditions, all of which play a critical role in how occupational accidents occur and how severely they impact the injured crew.

The analysis revealed that extremity injuries are by far the most common type sustained at sea, making up 63.2% of all documented cases. Of these, upper limb injuries account for 36.3%, and lower limb injuries represent 26.9%.

Looking deeper into the type of injury, fractures of bones were the most frequently reported, accounting for 33.5% of all cases. These were followed by superficial injuries and wounds (25.3%), and dislocations, sprains, and strains (24.8%). Less common but serious injuries such as burns, frostbite, and concussions were also documented, though they represent a smaller proportion of cases.

In terms of impact, 57.1% of maritime injuries led to less than 7 lost workdays, suggesting that a majority of incidents were relatively minor or treated quickly. However, 31% of accidents caused workers to miss between 7 and 30 days, and 11.9% resulted in over a month of lost time.

Data on ship-related risk factors reveal that passenger and ro-ro cargo ships experience the highest number of maritime occupational accidents, accounting for 42.97% of all cases (217 incidents). Dry cargo ships follow closely with 179 cases (35.45%), while tankers (51 incidents) and passenger-only ships (49) also report notable accident rates. The lowest incidence was found on general cargo vessels, suggesting that ship type and function significantly influence risk exposure.

When examining where accidents occur onboard, a striking 60.7% of incidents happened while the vessel was docked or moored. In comparison, only 11.4% occurred while ships were in transit, and 6.7% during cargo operations. Surprisingly, maintenance and repair work, often assumed to be major risk areas, accounted for just 1.7% and 0.7% of cases, respectively.

When looking at the ranks of injured workers, the data shows that a large portion of occupational accidents involve crew classified as “other workers,” making up 43.1% of all cases, likely due to missing or nonspecific role identification. Among defined roles, deck ratings are the most frequently injured group, accounting for 19% of accidents, followed by deck officers (12.9%). Engine officers and engine ratings represent 6.6% and 4.9% of incidents, respectively.

The leading causes of maritime occupational accidents involve slipping, tripping, and falling, contributing to 38.3% of incidents. This includes both falls from height and on flat surfaces. 

Body motion without external pressure—such as overexertion or missteps—accounts for 22.2%, while loss of control over machinery or equipment contributes another 16.4%. Body motion under external pressure (typically involving lifting or carrying) represents 13.8% of cases. 

Less frequent but still significant causes include mechanical failures, leaks or spills, and material breakage. Accidents caused by electric shock, fire, or explosions were rare (0.2%) but notably severe when they occurred, often resulting in spinal cord injuries or fatalities.

Surprisingly, 71.8% of accidents happen in clear weather, which suggests that human error, unsafe routines, or complacency may be contributing factors even when visibility is not an issue. Accidents in cloudy and rainy conditions are less common, at 15.5% and 12.7% respectively. 

Additionally, the vast majority of incidents occur during daylight hours (71.1%), with only 23.2% happening at night and 5.7% during twilight. Similarly, 89.4% of reported accidents occur in conditions with good or very good visibility (over 5 nautical miles).

Marine Accidents Involving US Navy Vessels

A 50-year study conducted by the Naval Safety Command analyzed 878 non-combat-related mishaps aboard U.S. Navy and USNS vessels from 1970 to 2020, revealing 3,127 casualties, including 2,079 injuries and 1,048 fatalities. While overall occupational accidents declined over time, mortality rates for certain injuries remained high, particularly on ships without advanced medical facilities.

Causes of Non-Combat Occupational Accidents Resulting in Fatality

The most frequent injury mechanism identified was fire, burn, or smoke inhalation, resulting in 923 casualties across 103 events. Despite a relatively low mortality rate of 13%, these incidents were often large-scale, impacting multiple crew members in confined spaces like engine departments, and typically stemmed from inadequate safety equipment, poor fire suppression, or limited emergency preparedness.

Man overboard incidents were less frequent but far more deadly. Out of 352 casualties from 220 events, 71.9% were fatal, underscoring the urgent need for better safety procedures, rescue equipment, and watch protocols, particularly during night operations or in low-visibility conditions.

Collisions proved especially catastrophic, with 275 casualties from just 14 events, averaging nearly 20 injuries or deaths per incident. With a mortality rate of 40.3%, these events often involved multiple compartments and extensive vessel damage—paralleling large-scale maritime accidents seen in marine terminals and busy ship operations where vessel congestion increases risk.

Though less frequent, explosions caused 106 casualties over 16 events, with a mortality rate of 60.4%. These were typically linked to fuel systems, munitions, or pressurized equipment, pointing to failures in occupational safety protocols and equipment maintenance.

Other high-risk mechanisms included:

• Chemical exposure/inhalation: 104 casualties across 27 events, 27.9% mortality
• Falls from height (non-overboard): 75 casualties, 59.2% mortality
• Electrocution: 32 casualties, 90.6% mortality

While some injuries had low fatality rates, they caused significant long-term harm. For instance, extremity trauma (223 cases) involved crushing injuries, amputations, and deep lacerations, primarily during handling cargo or machinery use, tasks common across the maritime industry. Of these, 83.8% involved the hands or fingers.

Eye trauma accounted for 17 cases with a 0% mortality rate, yet it poses risks to career longevity and quality of life. In contrast, cardiac arrests (17 cases) were 100% fatal, often occurring in remote settings without timely medical care. Suicides (12 cases) showed a 91.7% mortality rate, reflecting ongoing mental health risks in isolated shipboard environments.

Even rare incidents like accidental firearm discharges (8 casualties) had a 75% mortality rate, frequently due to lapses in protocol under high-stress conditions.

Maritime Safety Challenges and Regulatory Gaps

Despite the global significance of the marine industry, maritime workers face significant challenges that remain under-addressed. Severe accidents, including fatal occupational injuries, continue to occur due to poor visibility, extreme temperatures, hazardous materials, and inconsistent safety regulations across international waters. 

While frameworks like the Maritime Labour Convention aim to protect workers, significant gaps in enforcement and safety measures persist. Previous research and semi-structured interviews with crew members reveal that safety practices vary widely, and many workers lack access to adequate safety training or onboard health and safety resources. 

These challenges severely impact both injury outcomes and illness rates, highlighting the utmost importance of strengthening global occupational safety and health standards, especially as the demands of global trade continue to grow.

Compensation Following Maritime Accidents

Maritime workers injured on the job may be entitled to compensation under laws like the Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Jones Act, or broader maritime law protections. Given the unique challenges of such claims, it’s critical that injured crew members understand their rights as soon as possible following an injury. An experienced work injury attorney from our team can help navigate claims, secure appropriate benefits, and ensure long-term support for recovery.