Among DNV’s 2025 insights, the Maritime Safety Trends 2014–2024 report warned that as the global fleet ages, the risk of incidents at sea is rising.
Total maritime incidents have increased by more than 20% in just two years, with older vessels now accounting for over 40% of reported cases.
The data points to a shift in risk profile. While accident-based casualties have declined, machinery damage and failure have doubled over the past decade and now drive the majority of incidents. Preventative maintenance and asset integrity are becoming critical safety levers.
Our research reinforced the message that improving safety outcomes in the years ahead will depend less on reacting to accidents, and more on managing ageing assets before failures occur.
Read the full report here: https://dnv.social/70z
