Environment

Drop in shipping accidents in the Baltic

The annual number of shipping accidents in the Baltic Sea area, including accidents resulting in oil spills, has decreased for the first time since 2004.

It is however still almost twice as high as four-five years ago, according to the latest study released by Helcom.
There were 117 accidents in 2006, compared to 146 in 2005, and 142 in 2004. In 2006, only 5 accidents resulted in small-scale pollution, compared to 13 similar cases in the previous year. Most of the accidents occurred in the south-western Baltic Sea and the most common type of accident were collisions.
In 2000-2003, on an average there were only around 60 accidents recorded each year in the Baltic. According to Helcom experts, one possible explanation for the increase back in 2004 is the new reporting requirements for shipping accidents established by HELCOM. The rapidly growing maritime traffic in the region could also have contributed to this increase in the number of accidents.
More than 50,000 vessels annually pass the Skaw at the northernmost tip of Denmark on their way into or out of the Baltic Sea.

For more information please visit: www.helcom.fi/stc/files/shipping/shipping_accidents_2006.pdf

Written: 2007-06-28 11.07.59
Editor: Cecilia Österman