Visualization of Ship Risk Profiles for the Shipping Industry

This article uses correspondence analysis to visualize risk profiles and their changes over the time period 1977 to 2008. It is based on a unique dataset which combines incident data and ship particular data. The risk profiles can help stakeholders better understand the relationship of ship particulars, casualty types, incident locations, loss of life and pollution and link the results to developments of the legislative framework. The results demonstrate that the fleet improved their risk profiles over time reflecting legislative measures, port state control and vetting inspections. Older, general cargo ships flagged by black listed flags are most likely to be wrecked, stranded or grounded and remain risk prone towards flooding, foundering and capsizing. Some trading areas characterized by inter-regional trade operating outside the legislative framework remain risk prone. Most incidents do not involve loss of life or pollution. In terms of absolute figures, high risk prone areas for loss of life are the North and South China Sea, Japan and South Korea, the Mediterranean, Red and Black Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Casualty types which are more likely to lead to higher loss of life are flooding, foundering and capsizing on vessels which are flagged with black listed flags. For pollution, most oil pollution occurred in the area of the British Isles, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. High pollution quantities are more likely to be found due to collision and the vessel being wrecked, stranded and grounded than with other casualty types.