Maritime Safety News

The Round Table of International Shipping Associations - which consists of BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERTANKO, and INTERCARGO - has called for the increase in the awareness of seafarer safety, rights, and treatment outside of the shipping industry.The chairpersons of the world’s biggest shipping industry organizations gathered on February 6 in Athens to discuss topics including greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and the impact of geopolitics on shipping.

SailTimer is using innovative technology to crowdsource weather data for ships. This type of data has never existed before, allowing ships to reduce fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.GRIB Weather Forecasts are Inaccurate: Let’s Stop Navigating With GRIBThe marine weather forecast visible in all major weather services comes from satellite imaging. It is only a prediction, and is only updated every 6 hours. For wind direction it has an average error of +/- 35 degrees offshore, and even worse for future predictions and in coastal areas where the wind flows around landforms.

Maersk will continue to divert vessels away from the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea and toward the southern tip of Africa despite Yemen's Houthis announcing they will curb their attacks on ships, the container shipping giant said on Friday.The Danish shipping company said the announcement by the Iran-backed militant group was "a very welcome step in the right direction towards stability and eventual normality for the global shipping industry".However, it said the security risk for commercial…

Scottish subsea specialist Sulmara has supported a major fuel recovery operation from typhoon-struck cargo ship in shallow waters off Taiwan.At the request of the Taiwanese government, Sulmara mobilized a WAM-V 16 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) and a team of survey specialists to assist in the emergency fuel recovery operation for the heavy transport vessel, Yu Zhou Qi Hang.The operation was launched to help salvage cargo from the heavy transport vessel which ran aground with almost 300 t of fuel oil on board during one of the worst typhoons to hit Taiwan in decades.The 143-meter-long vessel…

Statement from Guy Platten, International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General, following the release of the Galaxy Leader crew:We welcome the news of the Galaxy Leader crew being released today and that they will be reunited with their families after being held in captivity since the 19 November 2023. The fact that the innocent crew were held for over 430 days is unacceptable and a truly dreadful situation. Nobody should have to endure such an ordeal, and we call on all nations to support our seafarers and shipping so that this does not happen again.

On January 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) formally withdrew its August 1, 2022, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that sought amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule that would have had the unintended consequences of endangering pilots, weakening navigation safety, and damaging the maritime supply chain on the East Coast. While the American Pilots’ Association (APA)  announced that it welcomes the proposal’s withdrawal…

Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has highlighted several areas high on the agenda of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as it embarks on a busy work schedule for 2025.Speaking at a news conference on 14 January 2025, Mr. Dominguez said that IMO’s 176 Member States continue to work together to find solutions to global challenges impacting the maritime sector.Dark fleetHe addressed rising concerns with the “dark fleet” or “shadow fleet” evading compliance with safety or environmental regulations, avoiding insurance costs or engaging in other illegal activities.Mr.

Ted Sensenbrenner, BoatUS Foundation Director of Boating Safety, has been appointed by Director of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas as a Representative to the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC).A coalition of recreational boating safety, state boating officials, national boating organizations, and boat and equipment manufacturers, NBSAC provides valuable assistance to the Department of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, on matters related to recreational boating safety.

Force Control Industries introduces a new line of Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) compliant thruster brakes under the brand name: HYDRASTOP.These spring-set, electrohydraulic thruster-released brakes are now available for 6-13” drums only with plans to develop larger drum sizes and a complete disc brake series. Thruster brakes statically hold and/or dynamically stop a load: they are ideal for industrial applications like cranes, movable bridges, conveyors, marine deck equipment, and more.

Gatehouse Maritime, a provider of  AIS (Automatic Identification System) network monitoring and maritime domain awareness software, announced the award of a new contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.The contract, initially set for one year, includes an option for a four-year extension, underscoring the long-term strategic importance of the partnership.Under the newly awarded contract, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will use Gatehouse Maritime's industry-leading AIS Network Monitoring system to enhance their management of U.S. national waterways. This advanced system provides real-time data and comprehensive monitoring, ensuring that AIS data is accurate, reliable, and secure.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced the service launch of Iridium Certus GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime satellite communication safety services.Iridium Certus GMDSS, the only truly global GMDSS service available, features distress alert, safety voice, and Maritime Safety Information (MSI); includes additional regulated services like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), and provides the fastest weather-resilient broadband service available for conducting ships' business when other systems are blocked or unavailable.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) will meet for its 109th session at IMO Headquarters in London (in-person with hybrid participation) from 2 to 6 December 2024.The meeting will be chaired by Mrs. Mayte Medina of the United States, supported by Vice-Chair, Capt. Theofilos Mozas of Greece.The MSC deals with all matters related to maritime safety and maritime security which fall within the scope of IMO, including autonomous vessels, safety of alternative fuels and technologies, piracy and armed robbery against ships, cyber security and e-navigation and many others. MSC 109 highlights to include:• Amendments to IGC and IGF Codes• Goal…

A vessel 60 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden reported on Monday a missile splashing into the sea in its close proximity, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.UKMTO added that the vessel and its crew were safe. The same vessel was passing through the Red Sea 25 nautical miles west of Yemen's Mokha on Sunday when it reported a missile splashing into the sea nearby, UKMTO said.Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea for more than a year to try to enforce a naval blockade on Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's year-long war in Gaza.

The UK’s Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) has retrofitted Zelim’s SWIFT man-overboard recovery conveyor to a 19-meter pilot vessel as part of a three-month trial to assess the system’s capability in high sea states.The Port of Milford Haven, located in Pembrokeshire in Wales, frequently endures high sea states due to its geographical location and exposure to Atlantic swells.Installation of SWiFT to the 2009-built Picton follows a technology demonstration carried out last year on the River Forth…

Marine safety solutions provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment and firefighting systems supplier FAIN have signed an exclusive worldwide agreement for VIKING to provide certified services for marine fire systems and equipment delivered and installed by FAIN.FAIN supplies the full spectrum of firefighting systems for marine use, including CO2, foam, DP, water-mist, sprinkler, alternative gases and more.Headquartered in Yangsan, South Korea, the company is a major supplier to shipyards in China…

Palfinger Marine, an Austrian manufacturer of hydraulic lifting, loading, and handling systems for marine applications, been selected to supply its Polar Class lifeboats and davits package for the first fleet of ships in the Canadian Coast Guard’s Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) renewal program.The contract covers the delivery of equipment for the first six of up to 16 vessels.The collaboration further extends Palfinger Marine’s long-standing partnership with Seaspan and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its report into the collision between the passenger ferry Waitere and the recreational vessel Onepoto in Paihia, Bay of Islands, on April 13, 2023.The Onepoto collided with the passenger ferry Waitere, known locally as the Blue Ferry, while the ferry was on its way from Russel to Paihia.The TAIC report describes catastrophic damage to the Waitere, which later sank. The Waitere's master was seriously injured, but its 19 passengers were largely uninjured.

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has expanded its network of owned service stations in Norway by acquiring the safety department of Tromsø-based company Lindrup Martinsen.The move will ensure VIKING can deliver even better service to customers in Northern Norway, as it expands its business in the region.Lindrup Martinsen has been a service partner for VIKING for 15 years. VIKING and Lindrup Martinsen have now agreed that VIKING will take over Lindrup Martinsen’s safety department, including 16 employees.

Viking Life-Saving Equipment won a new order for 11 ambulance boats from the Hellenic Coastguard.The Viking Norsafe Munin S-1200 ambulance boats will be used to support emergency services and auxiliary healthcare in remote areas, including the islands of Thassos, Psara, Agios Efstratios, Fournoi, Kea, Lipsi, Kasos, North Evia, Zakynthos and Creta (Sfakia, and Ierapetra).Manufactured in Greece, the Viking Norsafe Munin S-1200 is the largest boat currently offered by VIKING and is designed to operate safely up to Beaufort force 8 and at wave heights up to 4m.

Recent data from InterManager, submitted to the IMO in a recent paper (III-10-INF.18), highlights that in 2023 more than 30 seafarers lost their lives due to asphyxiation in enclosed spaces.This figure marks the second-highest annual number of fatalities recorded in nearly three decades.Most of these tragic incidents occurred during planned work, underscoring the need for comprehensive training and heightened safety measures, says MarinePALS.In the interest of saving lives of seafarers, MarinePALS has released two microlearning videos from its extensive library into the public domain.Read in-d

Zelim’s SWIFT man overboard recovery device has received full type approval from classification society Lloyd’s Register, paving the way for the maritime industry’s widespread use of the sea survival safety system.Did You Know? It is estimated that only 17% to 25% of passengers that fall from cruiseships voyages survive. And of all the 308 man overboard incidents reported to the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) between 2015 and 2023, 40% lost their lives.A Certificate…

Equinor will establish and operate a new area-wide emergency preparedness solution for the southwestern Barents Sea."Together with the other operators, the authorities and the supply industry, we have through 50years developed the preparedness for the fields in the North Sea and in the Norwegian Sea. With Johan Castberg coming on stream towards the end of the year and increased activity in the north, we are now establishing an area-wide emergency preparedness system in the Barents Sea in the Barents Sea," says Grete B. Haaland, Equinor’s SVP for Exploration & Production North.Grete B.

Telemar, the provider of smart maintenance and remote access technologies, has signed an agreement with Genoa-based shipping company Ignazio Messina to provide safety services to seven of its existing vessels.The Marlink Group company will deploy and manage the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) installation on seven vessels operated by Ignazio Messina.Telemar will manage installations onboard Jolly Argento, Jolly Oro, Jolly Rosa, Jolly Giada, Jolly Clivia, Jolly Verde and Jolly Bianco which joined the Messina fleet between August 2023 and April 2024…