Shipping casualties and loss of life in UK merchant shipping, UK second register and foreign flags used by UK shipping companies

► Shipping casualty and crew fatality rates have fallen in UK shipping, UK second registers and older flags of convenience. ► There has been less evidence of improvement for newer flags of convenience. ► The most important shipping risk factors for ships foundering and crew fatalities were cargo, trade and weather. ► Shipping casualties and crew fatalities should be monitored in new and rapidly expanding flags of convenience.