<p>Coastal and inland waterway transport (IWT) constitutes a significant part of global trade and commerce which provides an economical and sustainable means of transportation. However, maritime accidents in these regions can lead to serious challenges. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on coastal and IWT accidents to identify the most common accident types, investigate their root causes and evaluate the prevention and management strategies proposed in previous studies. The review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. A comprehensive search of the Scopus database was performed on articles published between 1987 and 2023 that had passed peer review. Ultimately, 9 out of 218 articles, including conference papers, were selected for review based on specific inclusion criteria. This systematic literature review provides a thorough and current overview of the research landscape concerning coastal and IWT accidents, while also acknowledging relevant earlier studies. The findings are useful for scholars, decision-makers and industry practitioners who are interested in improving safety and security measures, identifying knowledge gaps and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject.</p>