Marine transportation occurrences in 2021

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    The TSB gathers and uses transportation occurrence data during the course of its investigations to analyze safety deficiencies and identify risks in the Canadian marine transportation system.

    It should be noted that certain characteristics of the data constrain statistical analysis and identification of emerging trends. These include the small totals of accidents and incidents, the large variability in the data from year to year, and changes to regulations and definitions. The reader is cautioned to keep these limitations in mind when viewing this summary to avoid drawing conclusions that cannot be supported by statistical analysis.

    The 2021 data were collected according to the reporting requirements described in the Transportation Safety Board Regulations in force during that calendar year.

    The statistics presented here reflect the TSB Marine Safety Information System (MARSIS) database at 18 March 2022. Since the occurrence data are constantly being updated in the live database, the statistics may change slightly over time.

    Also, as many occurrences are not formally investigated, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified.

    Accidents

    Overview of accidents and casualties

    In 2021, 220 marine accidentsFootnote 1 were reported to the TSB, down from the 2020 total of 264 and below the 10-year (2011–2020) average of 284 (Figure 1). In 2021 the proportion of shipping accidents (as opposed to accidents aboard ship) was 80% of marine accidents, comparable to the previous 10-year average of 82%.

    There were 177 shipping accidents in 2021, down from the 2020 total of 221 and down 24% from the 2011–2020 average of 234. The majority of shipping accidents involved fishing vessels (25%), followed by solid cargo vessels (21%) (data not shown).

    Figure 1. Shipping accidents and accidents aboard ship, 2011 to 2021
    Image
    Shipping accidents and accidents aboard ship, 2011 to 2021
    Figure 1. Data table
    Shipping accidents and accidents aboard ship, 2011–2021
    Year Shipping accidents  Accidents aboard ship
    2011 254 41
    2012 216 52
    2013 240 61
    2014 249 52
    2015 214 38
    2016 266 45
    2017 235 48
    2018 233 57
    2019 207 64
    2020 221 43
    2021 177 43

    In 2021, there were 43 accidents aboard ship, unchanged from 43 in 2020 and down from the 2011–2020 average of 50. The majority of accidents aboard ship occurred on fishing vessels (53%) and cargo/tanker vessels (30%) (data not shown).

    Casualties (tables 1, 6 and 7)

    In 2021, 11 marine fatalities were reported, down from the 18 fatalities reported in 2020, and below the annual average of 15.6 in the 2011–2020 time period. Of the 11 fatalities in 2021, 9 were the result of 4 shipping accidents, while the remaining 2 fatalities resulted from accidents aboard ship (Figure 2).

    Of note, 6 of the 9 shipping accident fatalities in 2021 involved commercial fishing vessels, and both of the fatalities that ensued from accidents aboard ship occurred aboard commercial fishing vessels. These data indicate that more still needs to be done to improve safety in the commercial fishing industry.

    Serious injuries in 2021 totalled 45, up from 41 in 2020 but down from the annual average of 47 from 2011 to 2020. Forty of the 45 serious injuries (89%) resulted from accidents aboard ship, and 5 resulted from shipping accidents.

    Figure 2. Marine fatalities and serious injuries, 2011 to 2021
    Image
    Marine fatalities and serious injuries, 2011 to 2021
    Figure 2. Data table
    Marine fatalities and serious injuries, 2011 to 2021
    Year Fatalities  Serious injuries
    2011 16 32
    2012 14 48
    2013 19 49
    2014 12 46
    2015 19 45
    2016 8 50
    2017 11 49
    2018 22 61
    2019 17 57
    2020 18 41
    2021 11 45

    Shipping accidents

    Type of accident (Table 1)

    As illustrated in Figure 3, the most frequent types of shipping accidents in 2021 were collision (31% of all accident types reported), fire/explosion (25%), and grounding (20%). The total number of collisions (54) was 34% less than the 10-year (2011–2020) average of 82, the number of fire/explosion accidents (44) was 23% above the 10-year average of 36, and the number of groundings (36) was 40% below the 10-year average of 60.

    Figure 3. Shipping accidents, by accident type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Image
    Shipping accidents, by accident type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Figure 3. Data table
    Shipping accidents, by accident type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Accident type  2011-2020 average 2021
    Capsize 6 4
    Collision 82 54
    Fire/Explosion 36 44
    Grounding 60 36
    Sank 19 23
    Unfit 30 13
    Other 1 3

    Type of vessel (Table 1)

    Forty-nine fishing vessels were involved in shipping accidents in 2021, down from 77 in 2020 and down from the 2011–2020 average of 84 (Figure 4). Fishing vessels represented one-quarter of all vessels involved in shipping accidents.

    Figure 4. Shipping accidents, by vessel type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Image
    Shipping accidents, by vessel type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Figure 4. Data table
    Shipping accidents, by vessel type, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Type of vessels  2011-2020 average 2021
    Barge 18 14
    Cargo - liquid 9 5
    Cargo - solid 53 39
    Ferry 17 18
    Fishing 84 49
    Passenger 15 7
    Service ship 29 17
    Tug 22 24
    Other 20 27

    Geographical region (Table 2)

    In 2021, 46% of shipping accidents occurred in the Pacific region, 30% in the Central region, and 24% in the Atlantic region. Less than 1% of shipping accidents were in foreign waters.Footnote 2 In the Pacific region in 2021, shipping accidents were 15% below the 2011–2020 average, in the Central region shipping accidents were 23% below the 2011–2020 average, and in the Atlantic region shipping accidents were 31% below the 2011–2020 average (Figure 5).

    Twenty-eight fishing vessels were involved in shipping accidents in the Atlantic region, which is below the 2011–2020 average of 43 fishing vessels. Twenty-five cargo/tanker vessels were involved in shipping accidents in the Central region, below the 2011-2020 average of 39.  Twenty-four barge/tug vessels were involved in shipping accidents in the Pacific region, below the 2011–2020 average of 27 (Table 2).

    Figure 5. Shipping accidents, by geographical region, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Image
    Shipping accidents, by geographical region, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Figure 5. Data table
    Shipping accidents, by geographical region, in 2021 compared with the 2011–2020 average
    Region  2011-2020 average 2021
    Pacific Region 95 81
    Central Region 69 53
    Atlantic Region 61 42
    Foreign waters 9 1

    Vessel flag (tables 1, 3, and 4)

    In 2021, 82% of the 200 vessels involved in shipping accidents reported to the TSB were Canadian-flag vessels. Of these Canadian-flag vessels, 53% were commercial non-fishing vessels and 32% were fishing vessels; the remaining 15% were non-commercial vessels, pleasure craft or service vessels.

    According to information provided by Transport CanadaFootnote 3, marine activity for Canadian commercial non-fishing vessels over 15 gross tons (GT) (excluding passenger vessels and cruise ships) was 12 309 thousand commercial vessel-km in 2021, which is 7% above the 2015–2020 average.Footnote 4 This yields a rate of 3.0 shipping accidents per million commercial vessel-km in 2021, lower than the prior 6-year average of 4.8. (Note that a 7-year series is too short to test for trends.)

    Figure 6. Shipping accident rate for Canadian-flag commercial non-fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Image
    Shipping accident rate for Canadian-flag commercial non-fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Figure 6. Data table
    Shipping accident rate for Canadian-flag commercial non-fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Year Trip-based commercial accident rate (2011-2018) Distance-based commercial accident rate (2015-2021)
    2011 1.8  
    2012 1.5  
    2013 2.0  
    2014 2.6  
    2015 1.3 3.5
    2016 1.4 4.7
    2017 1.6 5.3
    2018 1.6 5.7
    2019   3.9
    2020   5.7
    2021   3.0

    Using historical data (2011 – 2020) from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Footnote 5, the TSB  estimated there were 11 744 active fishing vessels in Canada in 2021 Footnote 6. The shipping accident rate for Canadian-flag fishing vessels (Figure 7) was 3.7 shipping accidents per 1000 active fishing vessels in 2021, below the rate of 6.2 in 2020, and below the 2011–2020 average of 5.9.

    Figure 7. Shipping accident rate, for Canadian-flag fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Image
    Shipping accident rate, for Canadian-flag fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Figure 7. Data table
    Shipping accident rate, for Canadian-flag fishing vessels, 2011 to 2021
    Year Fishing vessel accident rate
    2011 6.3
    2012 5.3
    2013 6.2
    2014 6.4
    2015 5.9
    2016 6.6
    2017 6.2
    2018 5.0
    2019 4.7
    2020 6.2
    2021 3.7

    For Canadian-flag fishing vessels, the most frequently reported shipping accident types in 2021 were fire/explosions (35%), groundings (30%), sinkings (12%), and collisions (9%). Canadian-flag commercial non-fishing vessels were most often involved in collisions (47%), groundings (19%), or fire/explosions (18%).

    In 2021, 36 foreign-flag vessels were involved in shipping accidents in Canadian waters, 33 of which were commercial non-fishing vessels. According to information provided by Transport Canada,Footnote 7 marine activity for foreign commercial non-fishing vessels over 15 GT was 15 597 thousand commercial vessel-km in 2021, above the 2015–2020 average of 15 328 thousand commercial vessel-km. This yields an accident rate of 2.3 shipping accidents involving commercial foreign-flag vessels over 15 GT per million commercial vessel-km, above the 2015–2020 average.

    Vessels lost (tables 1 and 5)

    In 2021, 15 vessels were reported lost, up from 13 in 2020 but down from the 2011–2020 average of 18. Ten of the 15 vessels lost in 2021 were fishing vessels. Nine of the 15 vessels lost were less than 15 GT (including 4 with unknown tonnage). In the past 10 years (2012 to 2021), fishing vessels under 60 GT have accounted for 62% of Canadian vessels lost (tables 1 and 5, some data not shown).

    Incidents

    Overview of incidents

    In 2021, 855 marine incidents were reported to the TSB, down from the total of 925 in 2020, but above the annual 10-year (2011–2020) average of 712.Footnote 8 Incidents in the Atlantic region (352) represented 41% of all marine incidents, followed by 29% (251) in the Pacific region, and 28% (243) in the Central region. The remaining 1% (9) of reported incidents occurred in foreign waters (Table 2).

    The majority (85%) of reportable incidents involved the total failure of any machinery or technical system (Figure 8).Footnote 9 The largest proportion of these incidents (44%) occurred in the Atlantic region, while the greatest proportion of incidents involving risk of collision (51%) occurred in the Central region (data not shown). The types of vessel most often involved in total failure of any machinery or technical systems incidents in 2021 were fishing vessels (55%) and solid cargo vessels (23%) (data not shown).

    Figure 8. Marine incidents, by type, 2021*
    Image
    Marine incidents, by type, 2021*
    Figure 8. Data table
    Marine incidents, by type, 2021*
    Marine Incidents by Type Number  Percentage
    Bottom contact 21 2%
    Cargo shift/Cargo loss 4 0%
    Person overboard 5 1%
    Risk of collision (near collision) 35 4%
    Risk of sinking 30 4%
    Total failure of any machinery or technical system 730 85%
    Other incident types 30 4%

    * Due to rounding of percentages in category labels, additions across incident types should be calculated from Table 1 data rather than by adding percentages shown in Figure 8.

    Data tables

    Table 1. Marine transportation occurrences, vessels, losses, and casualties, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Accidents1 295 268 301 301 252 311 283 290 271 264 220
    Shipping accidents by type 254 216 240 249 214 266 235 233 207 221 177
    Capsize 2 6 8 3 10 7 5 10 8 2 4
    Collision 87 78 79 88 57 89 89 82 72 97 54
    Fire/Explosion 50 34 32 29 33 44 33 35 32 36 44
    Grounding 73 69 62 61 59 65 52 58 51 47 36
    Sank 10 10 15 26 17 27 22 27 18 20 23
    Sustains damage rendering vessel unseaworthy/ unfit for purpose 28 16 43 41 36 33 33 21 26 18 13
    Other shipping accident types 4 3 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 3
    Accidents aboard ship 41 52 61 52 38 45 48 57 64 43 43
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 294 241 277 281 241 312 270 268 231 257 200
    Barge 20 6 19 12 10 24 20 29 18 25 14
    Cargo - liquid 10 6 7 14 12 7 10 9 7 6 5
    Cargo - solid 57 63 60 68 37 40 39 47 57 62 39
    Ferry 23 18 13 20 18 20 12 10 17 15 18
    Fishing 99 82 90 92 82 93 90 75 59 77 49
    Passenger 16 15 15 13 17 15 15 15 21 12 7
    Service ship 25 20 36 21 29 50 38 27 21 20 17
    Tug 24 26 25 22 19 26 25 25 8 22 24
    Other vessel types 20 5 12 19 17 37 21 31 23 18 27
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 294 241 277 281 241 312 270 268 231 257 200
    Canadian non-fishing vessels 152 111 147 144 127 184 148 157 125 141 118
    Canadian fishing vessels 95 78 88 92 81 92 86 70 57 74 46
    Foreign vessels 47 52 42 45 33 36 36 41 49 42 36
    Vessels lost 22 23 21 20 24 19 14 15 8 13 15
    1600 GT and over 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
    150 to 1599 GT 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 2
    60 to 149 GT 2 3 4 4 6 5 2 4 1 2 0
    15 to 59 GT 9 8 7 4 6 2 4 3 1 3 4
    Less than 15 GT 10 9 6 8 9 7 5 6 6 7 5
    Unknown tonnage 1 2 3 3 1 4 3 1 0 1 4
    Persons fatally injured 16 14 19 12 19 8 11 22 17 18 11
    Shipping accidents 3 5 11 4 13 6 4 14 4 12 9
    Accidents aboard ship 13 9 8 8 6 2 7 8 13 6 2
    Persons seriously injured 32 48 49 46 45 50 49 61 57 41 45
    Shipping accidents 2 6 0 1 12 5 7 8 10 2 5
    Accidents aboard ship 30 42 49 45 33 45 42 53 47 39 40
    Occurrences with a dangerous good release1 0 0 0 0 5 7 7 8 2 4 1
    Reportable incidents 216 270 732 747 705 764 881 931 945 925 855
    Bottom contact 14 21 19 24 36 23 42 35 33 15 21
    Cargo shift/Cargo loss 2 5 2 1 5 4 6 7 3 3 4
    Person overboard 4 5 10 7 10 8 9 11 14 5 5
    Risk of collision (near collision) 38 37 63 35 31 45 52 67 54 66 35
    Risk of sinking 24 25 24 0 10 20 14 34 14 31 30
    Total failure of any machinery or technical system2 120 156 603 676 590 636 718 732 797 756 730
    Other incident types 14 21 11 4 23 28 40 45 30 49 30

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 The reporting requirement in the 2014 TSB Regulations concerning the release of dangerous goods has been harmonized with Part 8 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. The TSB did not collect detailed data on the release of dangerous goods prior to 1 July 2014.

    2 In 2013, the TSB  clarified to industry the reporting requirements for a total failure of any machinery or technical system, which led to an increase in the number of reported incidents of this type. These requirements are documented in the 2014 TSB Regulations.
    Table 2. Marine transportation occurrences, vessels, losses and casualties, by region,1,2 2011 to 2021
    2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Pacific region
    Shipping accidents 88 76 88 95 90 138 111 101 79 85 81
    Accidents aboard ship 11 18 21 23 14 20 9 12 16 16 13
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 103 87 107 108 106 164 130 119 91 101 95
    Barge/Tug 25 18 28 23 23 39 34 37 17 30 24
    Cargo/Tanker 5 12 8 15 6 14 9 8 13 16 11
    Ferry/Passenger 13 10 10 10 15 17 12 13 16 10 17
    Fishing 38 29 30 36 33 43 35 30 23 23 18
    Other vessel types 22 18 31 24 29 51 40 31 22 22 25
    Vessels lost 3 6 3 9 12 9 9 3 2 4 6
    Fatalities 6 4 2 5 12 0 6 7 8 4 2
    Reportable incidents 102 118 150 149 259 289 282 254 233 257 251
    Central region
    Shipping accidents 81 74 74 74 64 57 59 63 68 71 53
    Accidents aboard ship 16 19 25 17 10 11 16 21 20 17 15
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 95 79 86 85 71 66 66 71 75 82 59
    Barge/Tug 12 9 14 8 6 9 7 8 7 10 12
    Cargo/Tanker 46 46 40 55 35 24 26 35 38 40 25
    Ferry/Passenger 14 14 13 14 13 9 11 10 17 10 7
    Fishing 11 6 8 3 6 6 14 8 1 14 3
    Other vessel types 12 4 11 5 11 18 8 10 12 8 12
    Vessels lost 2 1 4 2 2 2 0 2 0 1 2
    Fatalities 1 3 6 2 2 0 3 1 3 1 2
    Reportable incidents 74 107 148 137 116 125 203 274 284 284 243
    Atlantic region
    Shipping accidents 78 56 63 72 55 64 59 54 53 55 42
    Accidents aboard ship 14 14 12 12 14 14 19 22 24 9 13
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 88 64 68 80 58 73 66 62 58 62 45
    Barge/Tug 6 5 2 3 0 1 1 5 2 4 2
    Cargo/Tanker 11 3 6 6 2 3 11 4 6 4 7
    Ferry/Passenger 12 9 4 9 7 9 4 2 5 7 1
    Fishing 50 45 50 52 43 44 40 35 35 40 28
    Other vessel types 9 2 6 10 6 16 10 16 10 7 7
    Vessels lost 17 15 13 9 10 8 5 10 6 8 7
    Fatalities 9 6 11 5 5 8 2 13 6 13 7
    Reportable incidents 36 40 428 450 318 336 382 391 410 372 352
    Foreign waters
    Shipping accidents 7 10 15 8 5 7 6 15 7 10 1
    Accidents aboard ship 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 2 4 1 2
    Vessels involved in shipping accidents 8 11 16 8 6 9 8 16 7 12 1
    Barge/Tug 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 0 3 0
    Cargo/Tanker 5 8 13 6 6 6 3 9 7 8 1
    Ferry/Passenger 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Fishing 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0
    Other vessel types 2 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 1 0
    Vessels lost 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Fatalities 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
    Reportable incidents 4 5 6 11 12 14 14 12 18 12 9

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 See the map of the regions in the Definitions section of the statistical summary.

    2 In 2013, the TSB  clarified to industry the reporting requirements for a total failure of any machinery or technical system, which led to an increase in the number of reported incidents of this type. These requirements are documented in the 2014 TSB Regulations.
    Table 3. Canadian-flag vessels involved in shipping accidents, by category of vessel and type of accident, and commercial accident rates, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Canadian-flag vessels involved 246 189 232 225 193 244 212 195 164 200 137
    Commercial vessels 109 88 101 107 83 100 90 100 81 102 73
    Capsize 1 2 0 0 3 2 1 2 1 1 1
    Collision 55 45 45 53 34 48 44 49 42 64 34
    Fire/Explosion 18 9 12 12 11 14 7 14 13 7 13
    Grounding 17 22 28 16 14 21 19 16 13 14 14
    Sank 3 1 3 6 10 5 5 5 3 6 7
    Sustains damage rendering vessel unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 15 9 13 20 11 10 14 14 9 10 4
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Commercial movements1 28 269 28 800 29 000 23 185 30 956 35 478 38 366 43 353 n/a n/a n/a
    Commercial accident rate2 1.8 1.5 2.0 2.6 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.6 n/a n/a n/a
    Commercial vessel-km (thousands)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 11 262 10 689 11 541 12 115 12 502 11 059 12 309
    Commercial accidents per million vessel-km4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.5 4.7 5.3 5.7 3.9 5.7 3.0
    Fishing vessels 95 78 88 91 79 90 82 68 57 74 43
    Capsize 1 3 6 1 5 3 2 4 1 1 2
    Collision 16 12 12 15 4 12 19 12 7 17 4
    Fire/Explosion 24 19 13 9 14 16 15 6 10 19 15
    Grounding 43 33 30 32 33 31 27 33 26 26 13
    Sank 6 9 10 19 10 17 8 9 7 9 5
    Sustains damage rendering vessel unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 1 0 16 14 11 10 10 4 6 1 2
    Other shipping accident types 4 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 2
    Active fishing vessels5, 6 14 217 13 871 13 719 13 623 13 242 13 311 13 138 13 124 12 682 11 908 11 744
    Fishing vessel accident rate7 6.3 5.3 6.2 6.4 5.9 6.6 6.2 5.0 4.7 6.2 3.7
    Other vessels 42 23 43 27 31 54 40 27 26 24 21
    Capsize 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1
    Collision 24 10 24 14 15 25 24 14 12 8 3
    Fire/Explosion 6 4 3 7 3 14 4 10 2 9 9
    Grounding 7 5 10 3 8 7 2 1 3 4 2
    Sank 1 0 2 1 0 3 6 1 5 2 3
    Sustains damage rendering vessel unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 4 3 3 2 4 4 3 0 3 1 3
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 A movement is a vessel's travel segment between ports with at least one port being a domestic port. (Vessel movement data source: Transport Canada email communication 3 April 2019).

    2 This commercial accident rate is the number of shipping accidents involving Canadian-flag commercial vessels of 15 gross tons or more (excluding passenger vessels and fishing vessels) per 1 000 vessel movements (to 2019).

    3 Based on data from Transport Canada, which has updated its methodology for measuring commercial activity. Beginning from 2015, TC combines terrestrial automatic identification system (AIS) data from the Canadian Coast Guard and satellite AIS data from the Government of Canada Satellite AIS provider to calculate a distance-based metric of Canadian-flag commercial marine activity in Canadian waters (Source: TC email communication 15 April 2021). Vessel movements are no longer captured.

    4 This commercial accident rate is the number of shipping accidents involving Canadian-flag commercial vessels of 15 gross tonnage or more (excluding passenger vessels and fishing vessels) per million vessel-km.

    5 Commercial fishing vessels landing at least one catch in that calendar year (Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans email communication 6 April 2021).

    6 The 2011-2019 active fishing vessel regression line was extrapolated to 2021 to capture the historical decreasing trend, the difference between the estimated and actual 2020 values captured the pandemic impact, and assuming a constant pandemic impact from 2020 to 2021, the difference was applied to the 2021 regression value to yield the 2021 estimate of 20 744 active commercial fishing vessels.

    7 The fishing vessel accident rate is the number of shipping accidents involving Canadian-flag commercial fishing vessels per 1000 active fishing vessels.
    Table 4. Foreign-flag vessels involved in shipping accidents, by category of vessel and type of accident, and commercial accident rates, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Foreign-flag vessels involved 47 52 42 45 33 36 36 41 49 42 36
    Commercial vessels 40 46 38 41 30 32 31 31 45 39 33
    Capsize 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Collision 23 28 19 29 11 17 19 23 25 30 20
    Fire/Explosion 3 3 5 0 5 0 3 3 6 0 5
    Grounding 6 10 2 7 4 8 3 2 6 3 5
    Sank 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
    Sustains damage render unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 8 5 11 5 10 6 6 3 8 6 3
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Commercial movements1 25 669 26 300 26 600 17 635 18 940 21 657 24 728 27 787 n/a n/a n/a
    Commercial accident rate2 1.3 1.5 1.3 2.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.1 n/a n/a n/a
    Commercial vessel-km (thousands)3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 14 329 13 517 15 635 16 788 16 543 15 157 15 597
    Commercial accidents per million vessel-kms4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.8 2.1 2.2 1.8 2.5 2.6 2.3
    Fishing vessels 4 4 2 0 1 1 4 5 2 3 3
    Capsize 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Collision 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0
    Fire/Explosion 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1
    Grounding 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0
    Sank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
    Sustains damage render unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other shipping accident types 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other vessels 3 2 2 4 2 3 1 5 2 0 0
    Capsize 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
    Collision 3 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 2 0 0
    Fire/Explosion 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
    Grounding 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
    Sank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Sustains damage render unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 A movement is a vessel's travel segment between ports with at least one port being a domestic port. (Vessel movement data source: Transport Canada email communication 3 April 2019).

    2 This commercial accident rate is the number of shipping accidents involving foreign-flag commercial vessels of 15 gross tons or more (excluding passenger vessels and fishing vessels) per 1 000 vessel movements (to 2019).

    3 Based on data from Transport Canada, which has updated its methodology for measuring commercial activity. Beginning from 2015, TC combines terrestrial automatic identification system (AIS) data from the Canadian Coast Guard and satellite AIS data from the Government of Canada Satellite AIS provider to calculate a distance-based metric of foreign-flag commercial marine activity in Canadian waters (Source: TC email communication 15 April 2021). Vessel movements are no longer captured.

    4 This commercial accident rate is the number of shipping accidents involving foreign-flag commercial vessels of 15 gross tons or more (excluding passenger vessels and fishing vessels) per million vessel-km.
    Table 5. Vessels lost by category and age of vessel, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Vessels lost 22 23 21 20 24 19 14 15 8 13 15
    0-4 years 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1
    5-9 years 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
    10-14 years 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 1
    15-19 years 3 5 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 2 1
    20-24 years 4 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2
    25-29 years 4 3 2 5 5 1 0 3 0 0 1
    30+ years 7 5 5 4 10 7 7 3 1 5 5
    Unknown 2 3 5 8 3 8 5 3 4 6 4
    Commercial vessels 1 1 1 2 8 4 2 3 0 1 3
    0-4 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
    5-9 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
    10-14 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    15-19 years 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
    20-24 years 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
    25-29 years 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
    30+ years 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 0 0 2
    Unknown 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0
    Fishing vessels 21 22 18 17 16 14 9 12 5 11 10
    0-4 years 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
    5-9 years 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    10-14 years 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0
    15-19 years 3 5 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 1
    20-24 years 4 3 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2
    25-29 years 4 3 2 4 3 1 0 3 0 0 1
    30+ years 6 4 2 3 6 5 6 2 0 5 3
    Unknown 2 3 5 7 2 6 1 2 3 4 3
    Other vessels 0 0 2 1 0 1 3 0 3 1 2
    0-4 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
    5-9 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    10-14 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
    15-19 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    20-24 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    25-29 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    30+ years 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
    Unknown 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 1 1 1

    Data extracted 18 March 2022
    Table 6. Accidents and persons fatally1 or seriously injured, by type of accident, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Shipping accidents with fatalities1 or serious injuries 4 7 5 4 7 5 8 12 7 6 8
    Capsize 0 3 2 0 2 1 1 5 2 0 3
    Collision 1 1 0 1 2 2 4 1 1 2 1
    Fire/Explosion 2 3 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1
    Grounding 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 1 0
    Sank 0 0 0 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
    Sustains damage rendering unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
    Persons fatally injured in shipping accidents 3 5 11 4 13 6 4 14 4 12 9
    Capsize 0 3 6 0 9 2 1 7 3 0 4
    Collision 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0
    Fire/Explosion 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Grounding 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
    Sank 0 0 0 4 3 4 3 4 1 7 3
    Sustains damage rendering unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
    Persons seriously injured in shipping accidents 2 6 0 1 12 5 7 8 10 2 5
    Capsize 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
    Collision 1 0 0 1 9 4 6 0 4 2 1
    Fire/Explosion 1 3 0 0 1 1 1 5 1 0 1
    Grounding 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 4 0 0
    Sank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
    Sustains damage rendering unseaworthy/unfit for purpose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Other shipping accident types 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Accidents aboard ship 41 52 61 52 38 45 48 57 64 43 43
    Persons fatally injured in accidents aboard ship 13 9 8 8 6 2 7 8 13 6 2
    Boarding, being on board, falling overboard from the ship 13 3 3 5 6 1 5 5 12 6 2
    In contact with any part of the ship or its contents 0 6 5 3 0 1 2 3 1 0 0
    Persons seriously injured in accidents aboard ship 30 42 49 45 33 45 42 53 47 39 40
    Boarding, being on board, falling overboard from the ship 3 2 6 10 7 6 7 7 2 7 4
    In contact with any part of the ship or its contents 27 40 43 35 26 39 35 46 45 32 36

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 Fatalities include missing persons.
    Table 7. Vessels involved in accidents with fatalities or serious injuries and persons fatally1 or seriously injured, by type of vessel, 2011 to 2021
      2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
    Vessels in shipping accidents with fatalities1 or serious injuries 4 7 5 4 7 5 8 12 7 6 8
    Barge/Tug 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
    Cargo/Tanker 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
    Ferry/Passenger 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 0 2 0
    Fishing 3 4 5 3 3 2 3 8 2 4 5
    Other 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 1 5 0 2
    Persons fatally injured in shipping accidents 3 5 11 4 13 6 4 14 4 12 9
    Barge/Tug 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
    Cargo/Tanker 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Ferry/Passenger 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 1 0 0 0
    Fishing 2 2 11 2 6 6 1 13 0 12 6
    Other 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 1
    Persons seriously injured in shipping accidents 2 6 0 1 12 5 7 8 10 2 5
    Barge/Tug 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
    Cargo/Tanker 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 0
    Ferry/Passenger 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 0 0 2 0
    Fishing 1 3 0 1 1 0 3 1 2 0 1
    Other 1 2 0 0 9 1 1 1 8 0 3
    Vessels in accidents aboard ship with fatalities1 or serious injuries 41 53 61 52 38 45 48 58 64 43 43
    Barge/Tug 4 1 3 4 0 4 2 3 5 3 2
    Cargo/Tanker 13 23 17 21 5 12 19 22 24 15 13
    Ferry/Passenger 6 3 7 5 9 6 5 8 8 3 4
    Fishing 17 21 25 18 23 19 16 21 24 15 23
    Other 1 5 9 4 1 4 6 4 3 7 1
    Persons fatally injured in accidents aboard ship 13 9 8 8 6 2 7 8 12 6 2
    Barge/Tug 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Cargo/Tanker 1 2 2 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 0
    Ferry/Passenger 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 2 0
    Fishing 10 6 5 6 5 1 2 4 8 4 2
    Other 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 0
    Persons seriously injured in accidents aboard ship 30 42 49 42 33 44 42 53 47 39 40
    Barge/Tug 3 0 2 4 0 4 3 2 4 2 2
    Cargo/Tanker 12 21 12 18 5 12 16 21 16 16 15
    Ferry/Passenger 6 2 7 5 8 6 4 10 7 1 4
    Fishing 8 15 19 12 19 19 14 17 19 12 19
    Other 1 4 9 3 1 3 5 3 1 8 0

    Data extracted 18 March 2022

    1 Fatalities include missing persons.

    Definitions

    The following definitions apply to marine transportation occurrences that are required to be reported pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the Transportation Safety Board Regulations.

    Marine occurrence

    • any accident or incident associated with the operation of a ship
    • any situation or condition that the Board has reasonable grounds to believe could, if left unattended, induce an accident or incident described above.

    Marine accident

    An accident resulting directly from the operation of a ship other than a pleasure craft, where

    Accident aboard ship

    • a person is killed or sustains a serious injury as a result of
    • boarding, being on board or falling overboard from the ship, or
    • coming into direct contact with any part of the ship or its contents;

    Shipping accident

    • the ship
    • sinks, founders or capsizes,
    • is involved in a collision (includes strikings and contacts),
    • sustains a fire or an explosion,
    • goes aground, or
    • sustains damage that affects its seaworthiness or renders it unfit for its purpose,
    • is missing or abandoned;

    Marine incident

    • a person falls overboard from the ship, or
    • the ship
    • makes unforeseen contact with the bottom without going aground,
    • fouls a utility cable or pipe, or an underwater pipeline,
    • is involved in a risk of a collision,
    • sustains a total failure of
    • the navigation equipment if the failure poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment,
    • the main or auxiliary machinery, or
    • the propulsion, steering, or deck machinery if the failure poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment;
    • all or part of the ship’s cargo shifts or falls overboard, or
    • is anchored, grounded or beached to avoid an occurrence,
    • a crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the ship is unable to perform their duties as a result of a physical incapacitation which poses a threat to the safety of persons, property or the environment;
    • there is an accidental release on board or from the ship consisting of a quantity of dangerous goods or an emission of radiation that is greater than the quantity or emission levels specified in Part 8 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

    Serious injury

    1. a fracture of any bone, except simple fractures of fingers, toes or the nose;
    2. lacerations that cause severe hemorrhage or nerve, muscle or tendon damage;
    3. an injury to an internal organ;
    4. second or third degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface;
    5. a verified exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation; or
    6. an injury that is likely to require hospitalization.

    Vessels covered

    This report covers commercial vessels that include all vessels either registered or licensed to operate commercially. Pleasure craft occurrences are not normally included unless they also involved a commercial vessel.

    Vessel categories

    • Commercial Vessels: include cargo vessels, ferries, passenger vessels, tugs and barges
    • Fishing Vessels: include vessels involved in commercial fishing
    • Other Vessels: include research vessels, oil exploration, exploitation and support vessels, government vessels and pleasure craft

    Miscellaneous

    Gross tons (GT)

    A measure of vessel capacity in cubic feet of the spaces within the hull, and of enclosed spaces above deck available for cargo, stores, fuel, passengers and crew, with certain exclusions. One hundred cubic feet is equivalent to one gross ton.

    Movement

    A vessel’s travel segment between ports or a length of 1 km or more within a port harbor, with at least one port being a domestic port.

    TSB regional offices’ areas of responsibility

    Figure 9. TSB regional offices’ areas of responsibility
    Image
    TSB regional offices’ areas of responsibility
    Figure 9. Data table
    xxx

    Pacific Region’s area of responsibility consists of the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories south of the 70th parallel, as well as the waters adjacent to these provinces and territories.

    Central Region’s area of responsibility consists of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec (including the Magdalen Islands), the territory of Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories north of the 70th parallel, as well as James Bay, Hudson Bay, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Great Lakes waterways up to the Canada–U.S. border.

    Atlantic Region’s area of responsibility consists of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the waters adjacent to these provinces.

    Footnotes

    Footnote 1

    See the Definitions section.

    Return to footnote 1 referrer

    Footnote 2

    See the Definitions section.

    Return to footnote 2 referrer

    Footnote 3

    Source: Transport Canada, Transportation and Economic Analysis – Policy Group, email communication 22 April 2022.

    Return to footnote 3 referrer

    Footnote 4

    Transport Canada (TC) has updated its methodology for measuring commercial activity. Beginning from 2015, TC combines terrestrial automatic identification system (AIS) data from the Canadian Coast Guard and satellite AIS data from the Government of Canada Satellite AIS provider to calculate a distance-based metric of Canadian-flag commercial marine activity in Canadian waters. Vessel movements are no longer captured (Source: An introduction to automatic identification system (AIS) data & how it’s used at TC (OPP). Transport Canada. December, 2019).

    Return to footnote 4 referrer

    Footnote 5

    Source: DFO email communication 6 April 2021.

    Return to footnote 5 referrer

    Footnote 6

    The 2011-2019 active fishing vessel regression line was extrapolated to 2021 to capture the historical decreasing trend, the difference between the estimated and actual 2020 values captured the pandemic impact, and assuming a constant pandemic impact from 2020 to 2021, the difference was applied to the 2021 regression value to yield the 2021 estimate of 20 744 active commercial fishing vessels.

    Return to footnote 6 referrer

    Footnote 7

    Source: Transport Canada, Transportation and Economic Analysis – Policy Group, email communication 22 April 2022.

    Return to footnote 7 referrer

    Footnote 8

    In 2014, the TSB issued new regulations that changed reporting requirements for some types of incidents, leading to an increase in incidents since that time.

    Return to footnote 8 referrer

    Footnote 9

    The 2014 changes in reporting requirements applied to those involving a total failure of any machinery or technical system, leading to an increase in incidents of this category since then.

    Return to footnote 9 referrer