The Brazilian Amazon is part of one of the largest river systems in the world, in which the transport of cargo and passengers is commonplace. However, several accidents still occur to passenger ships, causing fatalities. Transportation occurs commonly in remote regions, where there are transport inequalities, and emergency assistance is hard to find. This can affect sustainability in communities with considerable levels of economic and social vulnerability. More information is needed about accidents involving inland transport in the Amazon, to identify the threats to ships and propose strategies for accident prevention. This paper addresses the main problems that long-distance passenger ships face in the Brazilian Amazon, presenting an integrated framework towards accident prevention. First, the present situation is characterized in terms of ship description, spatial distribution, and regulations that are applicable. Next, possible causes of passenger ship accidents are discussed, including topics of concern that should be considered in the Amazon waterways. Finally, measures to help minimize passenger ship accidents are proposed, and the social relevance is discussed. It was found that accidents in the Amazon are due to a combination of human and environmental factors. Stakeholders should strengthen the technical and legal training of ship operators. The use of new technologies for navigational aid and necessary maintenance of ships is suggested. Marine accident prevention initiatives should consider local conditions, such as environmental preservation, cultural respect, and difficulties related to navigation through the complex riverine system of the Amazon region.

O uso de embarcações na região amazônica desempenha um papel importante nas atividades comerciais da região norte do Brasil. Porém, a indústria naval regional ainda enfrenta diversos riscos de acidentes com embarcações que podem resultar em perda de vidas humanas, danos materiais e impactos negativos ao meio ambiente. Visa-se necessário conhecer as causas possíveis dos acidentes mais comuns, incluindo as abordagens científicas recentes que podem ser implementadas para a sua análise. O presente trabalho visa revisar e descrever alguns dos acidentes mais comuns que podem acontecer com embarcações na região amazônica, incluindo exemplos recentes de métodos utilizados para o seu estudo. Basicamente, foram considerados os seguintes acidentes: colisão, explosão, alagamento, encalhe e derramamento de óleo. Finalmente, foram apresentados alguns desafios regionais que precisam ser considerados em iniciativas de prevenção de acidentes com embarcações na região. Espera-se que o presente trabalho possa contribuir na prevenção de acidentes no futuro da região amazônica, pois é um problema que ainda causa perdas humanas.

Although the Brazilian Amazon is still one of the most well-conserved environments in the world, it contains an extensive network of waterways that are used by a wide range of vessels that transport both people and cargo, as well as undertaking other activities. To plan environmental risk disaster strategies here, the potential effects of technological disasters, including marine accidents, must be taken into consideration. This paper seeks to redress this by providing a review of the possible risks to the Amazon aquatic environment that could result from various types of marine accidents. While the Amazon region has been researched worldwide, both extensively and intensively, regarding land use, climate, and environmental characterization, work in this field is scarce. A review of the main environmental characteristics of the Amazon is provided, including a description of common marine accidents that have occurred in this region. The environmental impacts experienced by the aquatic environment due to marine accidents worldwide were reviewed from the scientific literature to examine potential risks to the Amazon waterways. It was found that marine accidents, such as fire/explosions and the sinking of ships with different types of cargo, can cause the spillage of oil and other hazardous materials, causing catastrophic damage to the aquatic environment. Changes in the hydrological characteristics of rivers, including unexpected changes in the weather, such as heavy rain and winds, may also influence pollutant dispersion. Initiatives to deal with these technological hazards in the Amazon basin should also consider the potential social and environmental impacts in the protected areas of this region. It is hoped that this paper can serve as a starting point toward the governance and planning of risk disaster management actions, which are aimed at reducing the negative environmental impacts caused by marine accidents in the region.