Marine Safety in Focus: MAIB Annual Report 2024 Findings

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its Annual Report for 2024, offering a detailed overview of marine safety performance and investigative activity across the year. 

In total, 1515 marine accident reports were raised involving 1633 vessels, with 15 full investigations initiated—seven of which involved fatalities. The MAIB published 20 investigation reports and four safety bulletins, resulting in 74 safety recommendations across 36 different recipients, with an 85% acceptance rate. 

The full accident data covering 2021 to 2024 is publicly accessible:

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll, voiced serious concern about persistent failings in watchkeeping aboard merchant ships. He cited several high-profile collisions—including the fatal Scot Carrier/Karin Høj and Verity/Polesie incidents—as examples of the urgent need to reconsider human roles on the bridge. 

“Humans do not make good monitors,” Moll warned, emphasising that under-stimulation often leads to distraction. He called for a radical rethink of how watchkeeping is managed in the digital age. 

In 2024, three new investigations and one preliminary assessment were opened into UK fishing vessel flooding or foundering, none of which resulted in fatalities. However, Moll noted many vessels remain highly vulnerable due to a lack of watertight subdivision, stressing the life-saving value of early alarm-raising and well-practised abandonment procedures. 

The year recorded two fatalities aboard UK fishing vessels, equalling the lowest death toll in a decade. Yet, both occurred on well-crewed boats due to unsafe working systems. Moll stated that future MAIB investigations will focus on moving beyond simply having risk assessments, urging the proactive management of risk. 

The full MAIB 2024 Annual Report can be accessed at: