Neglible ships losses since outbreak of the Second World War according to the War Cabinet Weekly Résumé No. 64 of the Naval, Military and Air Situation 14-21 November 1940

An item reported that since the outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939 35,447 British, 4,564 Allied and 4,147 Neutral merchant totally 44,158 ships were escorted. The losses were negligble regarded the given figures of escorted British ships 1:230 (154 lost), Allied ships 1:228 (20 lost) and Neutral 1:296 (14 lost), an average of 1:235 (188 lost), with other words of each 235 ships one was lost. The human factor is another story, each dead sailor is one too many.

Source

National Archive UK. CAB-66-13-37.