A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF CASUALTY DYNAMICS AND SAFETY DEFICIENCIES IN RECREATIONAL CRAFT
Abstract
This study examines casualty dynamics in recreational craft through a multi-dimensional analytical perspective focused on occurrence patterns, contributory safety factors, and consequence profiles. The analysis is based on data derived from the European Marine Casualty Information Platform (EMCIP) and covers recreational craft casualties recorded between 17 June 2011 and 12 April 2026. Methodologically, the study employs multi-dimensional descriptive analysis, contributory factor analysis, and severity-based consequence assessment. The findings reveal that ship-related casualties are dominated by collision events, which account for 595 of 909 recorded ship-related casualty events (65.5%), followed by grounding/stranding (11.7%), loss of control (6.8%), and contact (6.4%). Person-related casualties are strongly concentrated in slipping, stumbling, and falling events (59.4%), indicating the prominence of onboard movement-related safety vulnerabilities. Human consequences are dominated by injuries, with 259 injured persons compared with 26 fatalities and no missing persons. Contributory factors are concentrated primarily in shipboard operation (57.6%) and shore management (33.7%), while personnel and manning, design, and crew resource management emerge as the most visible second-level contributory dimensions. Spatially, casualties are most visible in internal waters (48.8%) and the territorial sea (33.4%), emphasizing the importance of near-shore operational safety in recreational craft activities. Overall, the study provides a structured interpretation of casualty patterns in recreational craft and offers an analytical basis for more targeted maritime safety interventions.
Keywords
Casualty Analysis, Human Error, Maritime Safety, Marine Accident, Recreational Craft.
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