The World's Most Dangerous Seas
World Wildlife Fund Study Results
According to a report
commissioned by the WWF, the world’s most dangerous seas include the South
China Sea, the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. These parts of the
ocean are high-risk spots for shipping accidents, which in turn pose a huge threat
to the health of the environment and humans alike. The North Sea and the
British Isles are also hotspots for cargo incidents. Apart from the cost to the
ship owners and loss of cargo, these particular oceans are also home to a
diverse array of ocean life, which become threatened when accidents occur.
South China Sea
WWF Study
Statistics
• Since 1999, there have
been 293 shipping accidents in the South China Sea and East Indies.
• Over the past 15
years, the number of ships travelling the globe has increased from 85 000 to
105 000.
• The shipping process
delivers over 90% of the world’s trade items.
• General cargo ships
account for 50% of ships lost/wrecked at sea, whilst fishing vessels make up
25%.
• 50% of ship accidents
are caused by foundering in rough weather, sinking due to leakage, and breaking
in two.
• The Coral Triangle,
located in the South China Sea, is home to 76% of the world’s corals, and
around 120 million people depend on the area for their food and livelihoods.
• Risk factors for
shipping include the use of vessels over ten years old, in addition to poorly
performing flag states.
• The extent of a
potential environmental disaster is dependent upon the type of cargo being
transported. In 2002, the sinking Prestige oil tanker released over 70 000 tons
of oil into the ocean, causing significant environmental damage and economic
losses.
What Can Be
Done?
The study, undertaken by
scientists at Southampton Solent University, was released on the 8th June,
which is World Ocean’s Day. WWF notes that with increasing ocean traffic and
the effects of climate change, shipping accidents are likely to increase. The
organisation recommends greater environmental regulation by governments, both
at a local and international level. Furthermore, the WWF has called for shipping
agencies to assume greater responsibility for their operations, in order to
mitigate their risk of shipping accidents.
Marine manager at WWF,
Simon Walmsley, says that “We really want to see the shipping
industry promote greater owner and operator responsibility and encourage owners
to register with better flag states, the country which a vessel is registered
to. Additionally, irresponsible and badly performing owners and countries need
to be exposed in order to motivate them to significantly increase their
standards”. Walmsley also noted that the industry needs to become much more
proactive; too often, regulation only occurs after a devastating accident has taken
place.
Future Forward
Thinking
However, if we are to
truly preserve the diversity of our marine life, then we need to look further
than the shipping industry. There need to be increased efforts to tackle water
pollution, better regulation of the fishing industry, and greater efforts to
combat the effects of climate change. The health of our planet is in our hands.
Author Bio:
Grace
Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who puts her faith in Trade Ocean Port Agents to transport her cargo around the
world.
