A new report from Norwegian marine insurer Gard reveals that most seafarer injuries occur during routine shipboard work, often involving experienced crew carrying out familiar tasks. The findings have direct implications for crew availability and shipping reliability, as injuries can lead to medical evacuations, crew replacements, and operational delays.
Gard's Third Crew Claims Report
According to Gard, the report draws on around 3,000 P&I crew claims from 2025, including a deeper review of about 400 injury cases. Gard registered more than 6,500 P&I claims last year, with nearly half involving people. Crew claims made up more than 90% of those people-related cases. Illness remained the largest source of crew claims, accounting for almost 60% of cases, followed by injury at 37% and death at 3%.
Key Injury Statistics
Injury claims remained broadly stable in 2025, with more than 850 cases recorded. The leading causes of crew injuries were:
- Slips, trips, and falls: 29% of reported cases
- Hit by an object, wire, or line: 16%
- Strains from carrying, lifting, pushing, or pulling: 15%
Locations of injuries: Main deck accounted for 39% of injuries, while engine room accounted for 33%. Scheduled maintenance, mooring operations, and cargo work featured heavily among the activities when injuries occurred.
| Cause | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Slips, trips, falls | 29% |
| Hit by object/wire/line | 16% |
| Strains from lifting/pushing/pulling | 15% |
| Other | 40% |
High-Risk Periods
The first months onboard stood out as a high-risk period. More than half of the injuries analysed occurred within the first three months of a seafarer’s contract, with 60% of those taking place in the first month. Gard also identified the morning work period as a particular danger point: of cases where local time was available, the highest concentration of injuries occurred between 08:00 and 10:00, with nearly half of recorded incidents happening before noon.
Fatalities and Broader Trends
Fatalities were lower than in 2024, but Gard said the long-term average remains above pre-pandemic levels. Illness accounted for 76% of crew fatalities in 2025, with cardiovascular illness remaining the main cause of death onboard. Suicides accounted for 13% and injuries for 11%.
Expert Commentary
Christen Guddal, chief claims officer at Gard, stated: “Our review of crew injury claims data has provided some new insights about risks on board and safety at sea. Accidents causing injuries do not only happen to inexperienced crew or during unusual situations. They often occur during normal work when experienced crew carry out familiar tasks.” Guddal added that stress, fatigue, and workload remain important factors, and that the data reminds us “this is less about human failure and more about the realities of human limitations in demanding operational environments.”
Line Dahle, executive vice president of industry impact at Gard, said the findings point to the need for a more human-centred approach to shipboard safety. “Most voyages are completed safely and without incident, but recurring patterns in our claims data show that there is still more to learn from everyday operations on board,” Dahle said. “By sharing these insights, we hope to support practical improvements that strengthen the safety, health and wellbeing of the people who keep global trade moving.”
Implications for Shipping Operations
For shipping operators and logistics managers, this report underscores that routine work—such as mooring and cargo handling—carries significant injury risk. The concentration of incidents in the first month of a contract suggests that enhanced onboarding and safety briefings may reduce early-contract injuries. The high prevalence of illness-related claims (60% of all crew claims and 76% of fatalities) also points to the need for robust medical screening and onboard health programs. Given that crew injuries can force vessel delays and replacement crewing, carriers should review their safety protocols to minimize disruptions to schedules and cargo flows.
Watch List
Gard’s report highlights ongoing risks from fatigue, stress, and workload, which are likely to persist as shipping faces continued pressure on crewing due to global shortages. The insurer’s data also challenges the assumption that experience alone reduces accident risk, meaning operators should not rely solely on veteran crew but invest in continuous safety training across all experience levels.
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