Shipowners and the wider industry can rightly take both pride and a fair share of the credit for a significant reduction in ship casualties in recent years.

Only 85 vessels were lost worldwide last year — fewer than half the 171 lost in 2007. Losses have fallen every year since then, with 2016’s figure 29% less than the average of 119 over the past decade, ­according to leading insurer Allianz.