Gard has published its second Crew Claims Report, highlighting significant trends related to seafarer health and safety. Based on claims data from 2024, the report showcases alarming increases in crew fatalities, indicating a pressing need to prioritize mental and physical well-being at sea. The research reviews around 3,000 crew claims registered under Gard’s P&I mutual portfolio, providing comparisons to previous years to identify key trends and shifts. In conjunction with the claims data, insights were obtained from Gard’s 2024 Crew Wellbeing Survey, which gathered responses from over 6,000 seafarers from 46 nations.
This survey explored various dimensions of seafarer experience, including physical health, mental well-being, rest, and social support. One of the most concerning findings was a 25% rise in the frequency of crew death claims when comparing the three years following the COVID-19 pandemic to the prior three years. Lene-Camilla Nordlie, Vice President and Head of People Claims at Gard, emphasized the necessity of monitoring this trend for underlying issues that may require attention. The report also revealed that illness is the leading cause of death, accounting for 83% of crew fatalities in 2024.
Stress was identified as a significant factor, with eight out of ten common illnesses linked to it. Alarmingly, the rate of suicide among crew members exceeded that of fatal accidents. Nordlie underlined the importance of focusing on mental health, noting that while some stressors can be managed by seafarers, many are influenced by their employers and authorities. Christen Guddal, Chief Claims Officer at Gard, pointed out the connection between seafarer health and operational safety.
He argued for the need to enhance conversations around the real-life challenges faced at sea to promote health and safety improvements. The report also emphasizes the Mariners Medico Guide, an app developed to provide seafarers with medical guidance. Rolf Thore Roppestad, CEO of Gard, reinforced that seafarer well-being is vital for global trade and shared data aims to enhance awareness and decision-making in the maritime industry.