AN ANALYSIS OF HSC INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE - 1985 TO 2005

摘要

This paper presents an analysis of incident data from an HSC incident database recently updated by Seaspeed Marine Consulting Ltd on behalf of the MCA. The database currently records over 1200 incidents of which approximately 200 involve significant damage and/or injury. The analysis is limited to data from between 1985 and 2005, a period over which relatively comprehensive reports are held. Results from the study clearly indicate a gradual reduction in the number of fatal incidents per vessel-year, reducing by a factor of three over this 21 year period within which the HSC fleet has trebled in size. However, the number of incidents per vessel-year involving injury appears to have increased by about 40% over this same period. Also of interest is the significant reduction in the incident rate for collisions, contacts and groundings since the mid 1990's when the HSC and ISM Codes were introduced. In terms of investigating the differences in incident performance between vessel types, the statistics are probably less valid. However there are indications from this study that hovercraft and hydrofoils experience greater rates of fatalities per incident than other types of HSC and also, surprisingly, that the catamaran shows one of the highest rates of incidents and fatalities per vessel-year. It is not clear why the catamaran in particular should experience such an incident rate although it is thought possible that it may be due to the more frequent use of this vessel type in demanding sea areas.