Seafarer deaths at sea: a German mortality study
M Oldenburg1, J Herzog1, V Harth1
1Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Hamburg (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|September 27, 2015
Summary
German seafarers experience high mortality rates, particularly from accidents and heart disease. Officers face significantly higher risks, necessitating improved onboard safety training.
Area of Science:
- Maritime occupational health
- Seafarer mortality studies
- Workplace safety analysis
Background:
- Seafaring is an occupation with inherent risks and hazards at sea.
- Previous research indicates seafarers face numerous occupational dangers.
- Understanding mortality patterns is crucial for improving seafarer well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and primary causes of mortality among German seafarers.
- To analyze mortality trends over an 11-year period (1998-2008).
- To compare mortality rates between officers and general crew members.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of all German seafarer deaths from 1998 to 2008.
- Data sourced from the German central civil register in Berlin.
- Evaluation of mortality causes, including natural and unnatural deaths, and age-stratified rates.
Main Results:
- The study included 159,588 seafarer-years, with 68 male seafarer deaths.
- Unnatural causes (accidents, suicides) accounted for 66% of documented deaths.
- Officers (deck and engine) exhibited significantly higher mortality rates from cardiac causes and accidents compared to crew ranks.
Conclusions:
- Seafaring presents a high-risk occupation with a substantial risk of serious accidents.
- Officers demonstrate a disproportionately high mortality rate linked to work-related accidents.
- Enhanced safety education and behavioral training are recommended for officers to mitigate occupational risks.
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