Rule: when in doubt, choose the higher level
This is a safety database. Overstating severity is safer than understating it.
High
Any of the following:
- One or more fatalities confirmed
- Vessel is a total loss or constructive total loss
- Major structural damage to vessel or critical infrastructure (bridge, crane)
- Environmental pollution requiring cleanup response
- Major waterway disruption (Suez Canal closure, bridge collapse)
- Estimated economic damage > USD 10 million
Medium
- Injuries reported but no fatalities
- Moderate structural damage to vessel or port infrastructure
- Short-term disruption to port or waterway operations
- Cargo loss of limited scale
- Vessel grounded but refloated with manageable damage
Low
- No injuries, no pollution, no significant damage
- Incident was quickly resolved
- Damage is cosmetic or minor
- Grounding or allision with no meaningful consequence