Number of lives lost at sea declining

THE number of people who lose their lives at sea has been decreasing since 2018, according to the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA).
“In 2018, 164 people were recorded as lost. In 2019, the number was 133. In 2020, the number was 83,” a spokesperson said.
“Even more pleasing was the significant reduction in the numbers lost in the busiest last three months of each year.
“In 2020, only one person was recorded as lost compared to 40 in 2018 and 41 in 2019.”
The person who died at sea in the final three months of last year was in October.
“There were no persons reported lost at sea in November or December despite the large amount of travel over the Christmas period.
“In 2020, the NMSA recruited additional staff and increased the resources of its small craft safety programme and the maritime rescue coordination centre, enabling the programme and the centre to engage with provincial authorities to deliver safety at sea awareness and search and rescue response advice to coastal and island communities.
“These activities combined with the nation-wide Christmas operation to reduce passenger boat and dinghy overloading have contributed to the major reduction in lives lost in 2020.”
The NMSA however noted that some incidents were not reported to them “so lives have and will continue to be lost because of unsafe practices, especially overloading”.