Clinical and epidemiological aspects of victims of maritime accidents on the Mar Grande-Salvador crossing, Bahia, Brazil: a case series study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONMaritime transportation is an activity of vital importance to societies. 1 However, this activity is associated with several risks, among them the possibility of accidents, which can cause marine pollution and loss of life. 2 According to the Brazilian Navy, between January and August 2017, 107 shipwrecks were recorded in the country, a number 12.6% higher than the number of cases that occurred in the same period of 2016. 3 Among the maritime accidents recorded in 2017, the one that occurred on the Mar Grande-Salvador crossing can be considered to have been the biggest maritime tragedy in Bahia in the last decade and the second biggest in Brazil that year, second only to the accident in the Xingu River, in the state of Pará, which left 21 dead. The Mar Grande-Salvador crossing is an intercity waterway transport line in Brazil that crosses the bay known as "Baía de Todos os Santos" to connect the island of Itaparica to the mainland. On average, 3,500 passengers are transported per day, including both residents and tourists. 4 Over the years, measures have been taken to improve safety in shipping, such as regulations and crew training. However, navigation accidents remain a source of concern 5 due to the number of events and fatalities. 6 In shipwrecks, one of the concerns is the drowning of passengers and crew members. About 500,000 people per year die worldwide as a result of such events. 7 Drowning can happen in several circumstances, and the cases most often reported occur in fresh water. However, in coastal areas, accidents involving navigation and water sports are common. 8