Analysis of marine accidents by data of port and flag state control inspections

Maritime security has developed step by step starting from ancient times up to nowadays by experiencing sea accidents and disasters. Believes in old habitual and superstition changed because of accidents and high mortality rates particularly by the intervention of states, but also by international conventions, that carried the maritime security to contemporary standards. Today by its structure, activities and international conventions, IMO provides the basic standarts of maritime safety, but also data of this study. Another source of this study are the flag and port state control organizations which set up for the support the maritime safety by IMO. These organizations reached its strong position in the world seas thanks to information interchange and enhanced activities by local conventions.Serious marine accidents, well known all over the world like the ships Erika and Prestige and post-event analysis, helped to develop the standards of hazardous vessels. Thanks to these and similar post-event analysis the flag and port state control authorities determine the priorities of the ships concerning their specification, flag and even their different classes.This study compares the performance data of flag and port state control authorities, covering vessels of different specification and classes, regarding sea accidents classified by IMO as ?serious? and ?very serious?. The accidents are based on IMO data and port state authority inspections on their annual reports. The purpose of the study is the interpretation of the compatibility of the ship accident analysis with the risk analysis of the port state inspections.