Persistently high distress call figures highlight the importance of the ‘human factor’ in ensuring maritime safety according to a new report by Inmarsat Maritime.

Distress calls at sea remain high, with the number of global maritime distress and safety system distress calls registered on the Inmarsat Maritime network increasing from 788 in 2023 to 801 in 2024. The report points to a turbulent year for international shipping, with geopolitical instability, conflict, severe weather events, piracy, and cyber-attacks all adding pressure on operators and crews.

Alongside these risks, seafarers are facing welfare challenges linked to the pace and volume of new technologies. While digitalisation and decarbonisation are seen as essential for the industry’s future, the rapid implementation of new systems and reporting requirements has created an information overload for seafarers, highlighting the need for new technologies to support, rather than strain, crew welfare.

The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2025 calls for the industry to acknowledge the fundamental role seafarer welfare plays in minimising the number of preventable incidents at sea, recommending a ‘human factors’ approach to data that streamlines information, reduces duplication, and eliminates contradictory outputs.

Peter Broadhurst, senior vice president, safety and regulatory at Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Accurate data holds immense potential to transform shipping safety – from predictive maintenance to casualty and near-miss reporting and human-factor analysis. But data must empower crews, not overwhelm them. We need smarter systems to capture, evaluate, and utilise data more effectively without placing an extra burden on already overworked seafarers.”

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