New research shows that 29 percent of ships are responsible for nearly 70 percent of reported maritime accidents. These findings are presented in the Marine Risk Report 2026, prepared by ShipIn Systems and marine insurer NorthStandard. This report combines incident data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence SeaSearcher and operational data collected through the FleetVision platform, which includes over 600 managed vessels.
The Relationship Between Operational Scores and Accidents
The research revealed a strong correlation between low operational scores and the frequency of accidents. Ships with FleetVision scores below 75 recorded accident rates 5.7 times higher than those with scores of 85 or above. Additionally, ships with lower scores showed more frequent deviations in bridge operations, deck safety, anchoring, and personal protective equipment.
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Preventing Incidents Using Operational Data
The findings indicate that accident risk is not uniformly distributed across a fleet, and recurring operational patterns may provide ship managers with opportunities to identify issues earlier. Osher Perry, founder and CEO of ShipIn Systems, stated: "Safety is still often measured after an incident occurs. This research shows that risk is observable in the early stages and is embedded in daily operations."
A separate group of 250 ships that were continuously monitored for 12 months showed a significant reduction in recorded operational deviations. The average deviations dropped from about 230 per ship per month to eight, equivalent to a nearly 96 percent reduction.
ShipIn reported that these improvements have been consistent across all areas of bridge operations, deck safety, and compliance with PPE. This research points towards a more targeted approach to fleet safety, allowing shore teams to focus on ships that show recurring deviations.
Colin Gillespie, Global Head of Loss Prevention at NorthStandard, added: "The industry is not lacking in operational data. The challenge lies in turning this information into timely and actionable measures. When ship and shore teams can see the same evidence, they can address emerging risks and foster a proactive safety culture across the fleet."
The FleetVision system from ShipIn uses onboard videos, computer vision, and other operational data to assess activities in the areas of bridge, deck, technical, and safety. The studied ships were scored on a scale from zero to 100 and divided into three performance groups: below 75, 75 to 84, and 85 or above.
This report argues that recurring deviations in daily operations can be an early sign of where accident risk is increasing, allowing operators to intervene before these patterns lead to casualties or damages.
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