Lessons learned
When accidents happen at sea, we study them to make shipping safer. These 'Lessons learned' are simple, practical safety tips based on real-world investigations. They help everyone in the industry learn from the past to prevent future accidents.
These Lessons learned capture the essential elements of an incident: what happened, why it happened, the safety issues involved, and the potential preventive measures translated into practical guidance. Their purpose is to simplify complex investigation findings into accessible, actionable knowledge that can help seafarers, Administrations, training institutions, and industry stakeholders better understand the root causes of maritime accidents.
For the maritime industry, Lessons learned offer significant benefits: they enhance safety awareness, highlight recurring human‑element and operational risks, and promote the adoption of preventive practices. By sharing these insights globally, IMO helps reduce the likelihood of similar casualties reoccurring, supports harmonized safety standards, and reinforces the culture of continuous learning. The material serves as an important tool for improving training, updating safety management systems, and informing both regulatory and on‑board decision‑making.
The Lessons learned are reviewed, refined, and approved by the Sub‑Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) before being circulated to the maritime community. This structured approval process ensures that every Lesson learned is accurate, relevant, and aligned with IMO's objective of preventing future accidents and enhancing global maritime safety.
Lessons learned English
Title
Date
III 11 List of investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 11
III 10 List of investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 10
III 9 List of investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 9
III 8 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 8
III 7 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed (Session 2021)
III 7 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed (Session 2020)
III 7
III 6 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 6
III 5 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 5
III 4 List of Investigation reports which have been reviewed
III 4
III 3
III 2
III 1
FSI 21
FSI 20
FSI 19
FSI 16
FSI 17
FSI 18
FSI 15
FSI 14
FSI 13
FSI 12
FSI 11
Lessons learned per type of incidents
Title
Date
Consolidated version Others
Consolidated version grounding
Consolidated version Fire explosion
Consolidated version Fatality - Injuries
Consolidated version contact collision
Consolidated version Capsizing-sinking-Flooding and listing
Implementation of Instruments Support
Survey, Verification and Certification
Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC)
Casualty
Applicable IMO instruments
Lessons Learned
Reporting
Marine Safety Investigation Reports
Statistics
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing
IMO Legal Framework in the Fishing Sector
Joint FAO/IMO/ILO ad hoc Working Group
Port State Control
IMO Identification Number Scheme
Recognized Organizations
International Quality Assessment Review Body (IQARB)