Abstract

The issue of maritime disaster has become very worrisome to all stakeholders of the maritime industry, particularly the main actors in the industry. The causes and the consequent effects of maritime disasters are so numerous hence justifies this research work. Research and statistics show that human error is to blame in over 70% of marine accidents. As a matter of need and concern to the researcher and the maritime industry, the researcher was angered to carry out this work on minimization of maritime disasters with the view of contributing to the way of minimizing this menace. Research problems were stated while research questions were also formulated in order to help address the problem statements of this subject. Statistical data were extracted from Mikael E and Oscar E. on Maritime disasters from 1852 to 2011. The data collected were analysed and findings were also made. The finding shows the causes and the effect of maritime disasters such as poor education and training, inadequate policies and procedures, external factors like bad weather, Technical factors like unavailability of advanced equipments like GMDSS, human factor and its effects such as financial loss to both, the ship owner and the nearby local communities is huge, loss of job, collision with an offshore structure or a port leads to infrastructure damage and thus cause a heavy blow to human efforts among others. Recommendations such as proper implementation of the latest STCW requirements, master took the proper measures (such as reduce speed, change course, go to a safe place, send distress signal, putting in place advanced technology systems that would reduce the risk of accidents were made at the end of the research to help curb this ugly menace.