The Norwegian Maritime Authority’s Accident Status report for the first half of 2025 reveals 589 incidents involving commercial vessels. Among these, 312 were classified as accidents and 277 as near-accidents. Cargo ships were involved in 46% of the accidents, followed by fishing vessels at 29% and passenger ships at 24%.
There has been a notable rise in serious incidents, particularly groundings, which increased by 54% from 2024 and 21% compared to the five-year average. In terms of fatalities, only one death was reported during this period, a decrease of three compared to last year. Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Håvard Gåseidnes, emphasized the importance of safety, stating that while the decline is encouraging, any loss of life is unacceptable.
Additionally, serious personal injuries rose by 16%, totaling 170 incidents, with 113 minor injuries reported. Most injuries were caused by falls, crush injuries, and blows. The report also noted that nine fishing vessels, all under 15 meters, sank, leading to injuries from leaks and fires.
