Lithium-ion battery fires: What we know so far

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…)

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MCA publishes its new Sport or Pleasure Code

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 […]

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Vessel abandonments surge by 33% according to ITF

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 […]

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Kind Leadership: The key to building a genuine ‘One Team’ culture

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 […]

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InterManager urges shipping industry to share knowledge as it collates cases of seafarer criminalisation

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 […]

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WSC: Shipping carriers move to prevent deadly charcoal fires

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 […]

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Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium 2024

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 […]

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Enclosed space deaths spark calls for change from the the Maritime Professional Council of the United Kingdom

Appalled that enclosed space deaths continue to be all too frequent occurrences in the shipping industry, the Maritime Professional Council of the United Kingdom (MPC) has announced its support for fundamental changes to ship operation and design. MPC member InterManager has been at the forefront of raising this issue where, it says, seemingly innocuous compartments, […]

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‘Kind Leadership’ at sea is “needed now”

The shipping industry needs to embrace a new management approach if it is to make the most of its key asset, its people. That was the clear message from over 50 selected participants representing the maritime industry’s Regulatory, Education, Legal, Commercial, and Voluntary sectors. At a recent workshop held at the Royal Naval Reserve training […]

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MPC in partnership with The Nautical Institute and CHIRP held its first Kind Leadership Workshop

On the 19th June 2024, the Maritime Professional Council of the UK (MPC) held its first Kind Leadership Workshop in London in partnership with the Nautical Institute and CHIRP Maritime. Kindness is the key enabler that allows open, transparent and people-centric leadership practices which can have a hugely positive impact on safe and sustainable operations […]

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