Lessons from Q3 2025: 4 Key Maritime Safety Risks Operators Must Address
- Hannah M
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
Quarter 3 of 2025 saw a wide range of marine incidents across various regions and vessel types. Among the 263 reported domestic commercial vessel incidents, 41 were deemed serious and one classified as very serious. While the raw data is critical, understanding the trends behind these incidents is where the real safety value lies.
For maritime operators, these incidents highlight systemic challenges — many of which are preventable through improved operational practices, safety protocols, and risk awareness. In this article, we break down four key safety risks that emerged repeatedly throughout Q3 and explore how operators can address them in their own fleets.
1. Overboard Incidents Remain the Leading Risk
One of the most common threads throughout Q3 was the prevalence of overboard incidents. Crew members, contractors, and passengers fell overboard during a wide range of routine operations: disembarkation, boarding, line handling, towing, vessel transfers, and even during survey inspections. In several cases, individuals were not wearing lifejackets, dramatically increasing the risk of serious injury or death. One incident in Q3 resulted in the tragic loss of a crew member.
Key Risk Factors:
Lack of lifejacket use
Inadequate supervision during transfers or boarding
Unstable gangways or vessel drift
Solo operations during high-risk maneuvers
Recommended Actions:
Enforce mandatory lifejacket policies for all personnel during boarding, disembarkation, or operations on deck.
Conduct safety briefings before all high-risk tasks, including inspections and line work.
Install or improve MOB (Man Overboard) recovery systems, including MOB alarms, retrieval gear, and crew training.
Prohibit solo operations where risk is elevated — ensure team presence during high-risk tasks.
2. Mechanical and Propulsion Failures Create Cascading Hazards
Q3 incidents showed a significant number of mechanical failures — particularly in propulsion systems. Vessels experienced engine stalls, oil leaks, prop fouling, gearbox issues, and start motor failures. These mechanical issues often led to secondary risks: vessels drifting uncontrollably, colliding with fixed objects, or requiring emergency evacuations.
Key Risk Factors:
Delayed or inadequate maintenance
Unresolved recurring mechanical faults
Failure to conduct pre-voyage mechanical checks
Poor response planning for mid-voyage breakdowns
Recommended Actions:
Strengthen maintenance schedules focused on propulsion, steering, and power systems.
Require pre-departure mechanical and fuel system checks.
Equip vessels with basic redundancy systems or backup propulsion if possible.
Train crew in emergency response plans for mechanical failure, including drifting procedures and safe passenger evacuation.
3. Environmental and Navigational Hazards are Underestimated
Groundings, collisions with submerged objects, and poor visibility navigation errors were prominent in Q3 data. These incidents frequently occurred during poor tidal conditions or low visibility, and some resulted in hull damage, loss of rudder control, or even vessel sinkings.
Key Risk Factors:
Navigating through shallow or poorly charted waters
Operating in low tide or adverse visibility conditions
Lack of local environmental knowledge or route planning
Recommended Actions:
Perform environmental risk assessments before each voyage, including tide charts, weather forecasts, and seabed topography.
Avoid high-risk operations during poor visibility or low tides unless critical.
Use updated electronic navigation aids and charts.
Ensure bridge teams are trained in local pilotage requirements and situational awareness during coastal transits.
4. Onboard Operational Hazards Lead to Preventable Injuries
Q3 data included multiple serious injuries from routine onboard operations — shovelling cargo, using winches, releasing mooring ropes, and conducting inspections. These were not emergencies, but everyday tasks that turned dangerous due to inadequate procedures, lack of PPE, or poor awareness.
Key Risk Factors:
Complacency during repetitive tasks
Lack of safety procedures or training
Absence of personal protective equipment (PPE) - Inadequate communication among crew
Recommended Actions:
Conduct formal risk assessments for routine deck tasks.
Implement and enforce use of appropriate PPE.
Use toolbox talks before any manual task involving lifting, moving, or line handling.
Rotate high-risk physical tasks to prevent fatigue-based errors.
Provide ongoing crew training in manual handling, situational awareness, and hazard recognition.
Final Thoughts
While Q3 2025 incident numbers alone are informative, the true value lies in understanding why these events happened and how they can be prevented. For maritime operators, safety isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes — it’s about embedding a proactive culture of risk management, accountability, and continuous improvement.
By focusing on these four key areas — overboard prevention, mechanical integrity, environmental awareness, and safe onboard operations — vessel operators can make meaningful strides toward reducing incidents and improving safety across the fleet.
At SeaLogs, we’re committed to helping operators maintain compliance, track safety performance, and implement smarter digital systems to support better decisions at sea. If you’d like to explore how digital logbooks and maintenance tracking can reduce your incident risk, get in touch with our team today.
