(Gatineau, Quebec, March 17, 2005) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has today released its preliminary 2004 transportation occurrence statistics. These statistics allow us to identify trends in each transportation mode. Last year, the marine, air and pipeline modes of transportation showed a decrease in reported accidents when compared to 2003 and the 1999-2003 average, while the rail mode showed an increase. The number of air fatalities decreased from last year while marine and rail fatalities show an increase. Highlights for each mode are as follows: Marine A total of 480 marine accidents were reported to the TSB in 2004, a 12% decrease from the 2003 total of 547. Shipping accidents reached a 29-year low of 430 in 2004; half of these shipping accidents involved fishing vessels. In 2004, marine fatalities were 28, up from 17 in 2003, but equal to the five-year average. The increase was mainly in shipping accident fatalities which were 22 in 2004. The number of vessels reported lost decreased to 18 in 2004, half of the 2003 total of 38 vessels lost. Pipeline Seven pipeline accidents were reported to the TSB in 2004, down from the 2003 total and 1999-2003 average of 21. All accidents in 2004 occurred at facilities such as pump stations, compressor stations and gas processing plants. The accident rate decreased to 0.5 pipeline accidents per exajoule in 2004, down from 1.64 in 2003 and the 1999-2003 average rate of 1.72. There were no serious injuries in 2004. No fatalities have been reported since 1988. Pipeline activity is estimated to have increased by 4% in 2004. Rail A total of 1128 rail accidents were reported to the TSB in 2004, a 9% increase from the 2003 total of 1032. Rail related fatalities totaled 99 in 2004, up from the 2003 total of 79, and the five year average of 94. This increase consisted mainly of trespasser fatalities with 67 in 2004, up from the five-year average of 53. Rail activity has been relatively constant over the last six years, averaging 89.7 million train-miles travelled annually. Air Canadian-registered aircraft, other than ultralights, were involved in 252 reported accidents in 2004, a 15% decrease from the 2003 total of 295 and the 1999-2003 average of 305. Canadian-registered aircraft, other than ultralights, were involved in 24 fatal occurrences with 37 fatalities in 2004, fewer than the five-year average of 33 fatal occurrences and 60 fatalities. More than half of these fatal occurrences involved privately operated aircraft and four of the remaining nine fatal occurrences involved helicopters. The 2004 estimate of flying activity is 3,809,000 hours, yielding an accident rate of 6.6 accidents per 100,000 flying hours, down from the five-year rate of 7.9. The complete 2004 Preliminary Transportation Occurrence Statistics for each mode are included on the TSB web site at www.tsb.gc.ca. The TSB web site also provides completed investigation reports for each mode. The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. - 30 - For further information: John Cottreau Senior Media Relations Advisor Telephone: (819) 994-8053 Cellular: (613) 292-4146
