More deaths were caused by illness (81%) than injury (19%), according to Britannia’s P&I crew claims report from 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The most common cause of death due to illness was cardiovascular, e.g. heart attack, or other issues associated with the heart. This was more evident in the ageing population, more than 50 years, as cardiovascular disease increases with age.
Britannia’s P&I crew claims data from 2023 to 2025 found that cardiovascular issues account for 58% of death claims, whereas it accounts for only 9% of illness claims.
There were 17 deaths also caused by injury. Of these, 6 were man overboard (MOB). Many of these MOB injury cases were due to falling overboard during heavy weather.
It is also noteworthy that there were more suicides in the younger age brackets, especially the 20−29 age group, when there are overall fewer claims in this age group for both illnesses and injuries.
Although the dataset is too small to draw an accurate conclusion, Britannia has seen this figure across a broader 4-year dataset.
Britannia also recorded around 3,000 crew-related claims over the two-year period. Of these, 36% related to non-fatal injuries, 60% to non-fatal illnesses, and 4% to fatalities arising from injury, illness or suicide.
Injury claims were most commonly associated with the hands (27%) and legs (23%), followed by arms and shoulders (15%) and the back (10%).
This distribution reflects the physical demands of seafaring, including manual handling, machinery operation and working in a dynamic maritime environment. Head and eye injuries (15% combined) were also notable, suggesting inconsistent use of personal protective equipment.
While safety procedures are already in place on board, further emphasis is needed on crew engagement with safety practices, effective risk assessment, teamwork and open communication around hazards.
