Purpose
The survey is to contribute to a high level of safety on board Danish passenger ships so that it is safe to be carried by them and so that it is possible to rescue everybody in case of an accident.
The purpose of the survey is to verify that the ship has, as a minimum, a technical standard complying with current regulations and the intentions behind the regulations and that the daily work is characterised by safety work and a safety culture enabling the crew to operate the ship safely and act effectively in case of an accident.
Consequently, the shipowner must ensure and the Danish verify through the survey:
- That the ship and equipment is in working order so as to avoid accidents insofar as possible – or alternatively be able to manage them.
- That the crew has knowledge about and is capable of handling worst case scenarios.
- That the crew's health, safety and social conditions are under control.
Annual survey theme
Every year, the Danish Maritime Authority selects a theme related to marine accidents and a theme related to occupational health which will be in focus during the surveys. In the table below, you can see the themes chosen.
| Year |
Marine accident |
Occupational health |
| 2026 |
Loss of Control |
Hours of Rest |
| 2025 |
Engine Room Fires |
Work/Accidents on the Weather Deck |
| 2024 |
Safety during port call |
Workplace assessment / Risk assessment (RA) translated into reality |
| 2023 |
Systems integrity in case of fire |
Working at height and entering enclosed spaces |
| 2022 |
Electric vehicles and cargo securing |
Hours of rest |
| 2021 |
Safety of navigation/bridge resource management |
Mental occupational health; welfare and harassment |
| 2020 |
Collision and man-over-board |
Carcinogenic substances |
| 2019 |
Fire on car deck |
Ergonomics |
| 2018 |
Collision at sea with flooding, listing and evacuation |
Work with hazardous chemicals
|
| 2017 |
Fire in the accommodation (incl. evacuation) |
Jamming injuries |
| 2016 |
Lost steering |
Falls |
| 2015 |
Fire on car deck |
Heavy lifts |
| 2014 |
Collision with 2-room damage |
Work with chemicals |
This year's survey theme
Marine accident - Loss of Control (revised on the 17th of December)
The Danish Maritime Authority has, over the past five years, recorded 28 incidents involving Danish passenger ships where the cause can be related to disturbances such as black outs, failures of propulsion or manoeuvring equipment, steering failures, or similar events. Several of these incidents were classified as less serious, while others resulted in damage to the vessel and port facilities. During the same period, the occurrence of disturbances affecting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has become more frequent.
Inspection theme: Maritime accident – Loss of control. This inspection theme focuses on verifying the robustness of passenger ships in relation to disturbances or failures affecting the vessel’s primary systems, as well as the crew’s ability to use secondary means of control in the event of a loss of control on a primary system. This may, for example include GNSS interference affecting navigation, and ECDIS loss of propulsion power, maneuvering equipment or steering gear, blackouts, and integrated ship control systems.
The inspection shall furthermore verify whether the vessel and the crew have identified risks related to loss of control, assessed the possibilities and limitations associated with such scenarios, and established procedures for secondary means of control.
The crew’s knowledge of and training in handling the ship’s onboard systems can be of decisive importance for vessel safety in the event of a sudden failure of one of these systems. The purpose of the Danish Maritime Authority’s inspection theme is to strengthen and verify the robustness of passenger ships in relation to disturbances or failures of primary systems — where possible demonstrated under safe conditions, for example in connection with an exercise.
Work Environment – Work/Accidents on the Weather Deck
In 2026, the Danish Maritime Authority will conduct an inspection campaign focusing on crew hours of rest. The purpose is to ensure that seafarers on board actually receive the rest required under the hours-of-rest regulations, and that these provisions are effectively supported in daily operations.
During the inspections, particular attention will be given to work planning, the ship’s manning, and the quality of the hours-of-rest records. This includes assessing whether the records provide an accurate picture of the actual operations on board. In addition, the inspections will consider how work routines, watch schedules, and other practical factors affect the crew’s ability to obtain uninterrupted rest.
The aim of the campaign is to promote a safe and healthy working environment and to prevent systematic errors and deficiencies in hours-of-rest records.