This paper examines the risks attached to reducing the seatime requirements for STCW Officer of the Watch (OOW) candidates. It is based on observations by experienced master mariners and maritime educators within the Maritime Professional Council of the UK and draws heavily on a submission to IMO by The Nautical Institute.(1) Executive Summary This paper […]
In edition 2 of the “Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What We Know So Far”, the Maritime Professional Council of the UK (MPC) warns of the rising risks and dangers of lithium-ion battery fires to ships, boats and their crews. The maritime industry faces increasing incidents and fires due to lithium-ion technology, particularly with the growing use […]
Following growing recognition that Kind Leadership is essential to maritime excellence, leaders from across the sector gathered in London in November 2025 to discuss how ‘we can bring about and then support a lasting industry cultural change’. The Kind Leadership Workshop, jointly developed by the Maritime Professional Council (MPC), The Nautical Institute and CHIRP, brought […]
Lithium-ion battery fires: What we know so far is a new publication published on behalf of the members of the Maritime Professional Council of the UK. That said, it is aimed at an international audience. The publication has been co-authored by Frances Birkett and Mike Schwarz of IIMS.
Deliberately designed not to be technically heavy, this 36-page overview aims to share some of the case studies and issues surrounding this emerging technology we (more…)
Safety and innovation are at the heart of updated regulations for small commercial vessels used for sport or pleasure that were laid before Parliament on 20 November 2025 with application to be phased in from 12 December 2025 by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), starting only with new vessels entering either code for […]
New figures released by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reveal that vessel abandonments have surged nearly 33% year on year. By May this year, 158 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded, up from 119 at the same point in 2024. These cases represent more than 1,501 seafarers who have reached out to the […]
In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Capt. John Wright, FNI, HCMM, Maritime Professional Council of the UK (MPC), discusses the importance of leading with kindness, highlighting that the connection between Kind Leadership and a strong business performance has yet to be widely recognized in the maritime industry. He emphasizes that Kind Leadership is crucial for […]
InterManager, the international trade association for the ship management sector, is calling on shipping industry colleagues to contribute to a new campaign to highlight the issue of criminalisation of seafarers. InterManager is concerned at the increasingly harsh treatment of ships’ crew in some parts of the world and is actively taking part in industry discussions […]
The shipping industry is taking proactive steps to implement improved safety measures for transporting charcoal, ahead of mandatory IMO regulations in 2026, according to a press release from the World Shipping Council (WSC). In response to a series of devastating fires caused by improperly handled charcoal, shippers should be ready to see carriers phase in […]
Edition IV of the IIMS Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium has been published and is available for download. This is an essential addition to every marine surveyor’s online library. As you read and browse the 172-page publication you will discover: – A wealth of safety briefing information. – Detail of incident and accident reports […]