ABSTRACT

In this study; it was aimed to conduct a retrospective review of marine accidents and incidents resulting in death, injury or loss occurred on or involving the Turkish flagged ships in Turkish search and rescue area. For this purpose, the data on 182 marine accidents/incidents resulting in death, injury or loss occurred on or involving the Turkish flagged ships between 2012 and 2014 registered in the database of Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center were also analyse with SPSS 21 programme. According to findings as a result of the analysis; it was found that 56.6% of the accidents resulting in death, injury or loss occurred on or involving the Turkish flagged ships was ‘marine accidents’, 18.1% of 'occupational accidents' and 25.3% of 'other incidents'. The common marine accidents were 'Capsizing' (31.3%) and 'Collision' (12.6%). The common occupational accidents of professional seafarers were ‘Striking, compressing, crushing, sinking, cutting of objects’ (4.9%) and ‘fall into the sea’ (3.3%). The other incidents damage to the people (passengers, amateur sailors/fishers etc.) other than professional seafarers were ‘jump into the sea' (9,9%) and 'suicide’ (6,6%). The ships/vessels which were involved in the accidents/incidents were below 3000 GT and under 90 meter of length. The type of ships involved in more than half of the accidents/incidents investigated were ‘yachts-private crafts- sportive & recreational boats’ (43.6%) and 'passenger ships' (19.6%) and more than half of the victims who damaged due to the accidents/incidents were ‘amateur sailors'(34.6%) and' professional seamen' (29.6%). In the conclusion section of this study, some suggestions on preventing marine accidents / incidents were presented.