Shipping losses have undergone a 50 per cent decline worldwide in the past decade, according to a report by insurance group Allianz. Meanwhile, Macau has seen an average of five ships sink per year during the past five years, according to information provided by the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) to Business Daily.
The Allianz report points out that the South China and Southeast Asian waters were recorded as the top loss location worldwide, with primary reasons for loss resulting from crew negligence and inadequate vessel maintenance, while the 50 per cent reduction in losses is primarily due to ‘a more robust safety environment by shipowners’.
In total last year four ships sank in Macau’s territorial waters ‘which included a fishing boat, an engineering boat, a sand carrier and a cargo vessel,’ DSAMA said. The reasons for the vessels sinking were not disclosed in the response.
In addition to the four ships that sank a total of 14 cases ‘involving rescue’ occurred in 2016, while this year, as at yesterday, some four incidents had occurred, according to the information provided.
