Nautilus Social Conditions Survey: Safety onboard

In the Nautilus International Social Conditions survey 2021, there was a concerning increase in the proportion of Nautilus members who told us that safety incidents had occurred on their ship. Indeed, the levels now appear to have returned to those experienced in 2001, after an improving situation was found in 2010.

Type of incidents

However, fewer of the incidents occurred within the previous 10 months than in the 2010 and 2001 surveys.

Have any of the following incidents occurred on your ship?

	2021	2010	2001
Collapse of equipment/structure	15%	11%	32%
Crew member slipping/falling	71%	35%	73%
Fire	48%	12%	42%
Incident during loading/off-loading in port	25%	14%	35%
Pirate/armed attack	0%	2%	0%
Rope accident	20%	9%	29%

How long ago did the most recent accident onboard on your ship occur?

	2021	2010	2001
In the last month	8%	15%	12%
2-5 months ago	19%	33%	39%
5-10 months ago	11%	17%	17%
Over 10 months ago	35%	18%	18%
No accidents	14%	10%	6%
I don't know	13%	7%	5%

There was a further decline in the proportion of members who could say with certainty that the accident was properly recorded, with the percentage saying 'yes' falling from 87% in 2001 to 69% in 2021.

Was the accident properly recorded in an official book?

	2021	2010	2001
Yes	69%	80%	87%
No	3%	5%	4%
I don't know	11%	15%	9%
Not applicable	15%	0%	0%-

Given the potential for serious injury or death when accidents occur at sea, it is deeply concerning that 14% of seafarers did not believe that they or their colleagues were treated fairly after reporting an accident.

Do you feel you and/or the crew were treated fairly by officials following any accidents reported?

Yes	86%
No (please give details)	14%

Training

There has been a decline in the proportion of members who said that they had received safety and other kinds of training within the previous five months when compared with 2010.

Some 7% of members said that they had never received safety training, and 9% said that they have never received any other training – both notable increases on previous years. Further analysis of open responses indicates that this appears to be particularly problematic in the superyacht sector.

Given the importance of cyber security as the industry continues to digitise, it is worrying that over a third of seafarers said that they have not received cyber security training.

When were you last given safety training?

	2021	2010
In the last month	44%	47%
2-5 months ago	24%	25%
5-10 months ago	10%	8%
Over 10 months ago	15%	17%
Never	7%	2%

When were you last given any other training?

	2021	2010	2001
In the last month	33%	35%	29%
2-5 months ago	26%	27%	23%
5-10 months ago	10%	13%	14%
Over 10 months ago	22%	23%	29%
Never	9%	2%	0%

Have you ever received cyber security training?

Yes	65%
No	35%

 

The company is changing approach annually to reduce accidents which is causing confusion in the ranks and stressing senior officers Nautilus International Social Conditions Survey 2021

Safety equipment

Most respondents said that various safety aspects as well as the overall safety condition of the ship were 'good' or 'average'.

How would you rate each of the following safety aspects onboard your ship?

 

How would you rate the overall safety condition of your ship?

Good	74%
Average	24%
Poor	2%