Global political instability may now be the number one concern for shipowners, operators and C-suite personnel, according to the fourth and most recent edition of the International Chamber of Shipping’s (ICS’) Maritime Barometer Report. The 2024-2025 edition of the report indicates that this instability remains the biggest concern for respondents for the third consecutive year […]
This year, the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) concluded its 12th International Maritime Student Design Competition, an annual initiative hosted to encourage students to create designs for safe, stable and affordable domestic ferries – and particularly for rivers and regions within developing countries, or which are prone to higher-than-average rates of accidents. Last year, the […]
Updated guidance on tackling ‘non-traditional’ fires, including those involving batteries and alternative fuels, take prominence in the British Tugowners Association’s (BTA’s) recently published Use of Tugs in Firefighting e-doc, which offers industry-standard guidance for tug operators. “In 2023, over 200 shipboard fires were reported globally, highlighting the urgent need for effective firefighting protocols,” the BTA […]
I can’t remember the first time I covered the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association’s (WFSA’s) international student design contest for a safe, affordable domestic ferry, but our report on the 12th instalment of the competition in the June 2025 issue of The Naval Architect reminds me of the many winners that the dearly departed Ship […]
Having saved more than 6,400 lives in its 130+ year history, the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society (Redningsselskapet) is a cornerstone of maritime safety in Norway. Like many rescue agencies, though, the Society often must negotiate treacherous sea conditions at high speeds, raising the risk of severe slamming – a threat to volunteer first responders, onboard […]
System monitoring company CM Technologies (CMT) has launched a new test kit for Legionnaire’s disease, which, CMT warns, can easily breed in onboard hot tubs, spas and pools. “Hot tubs are a real problem,” comments CMT managing director David Fuhlbruegge. “Most yachts have them these days, with operating water temperatures of between 37°-40°C, which is […]
The University of Strathclyde, UK is appealing to ship operators, safety professionals and accident investigators to make better use of the Safety Human Incident & Error Learning Database (SHIELD), so that the maritime industry can build up a clearer picture of the role that human factors play in maritime incidents. SHIELD was originally launched in […]
Data taken from the latest release of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s biannual World Risk Poll indicates that 26% of fishers around the world have personally experienced harm at work in the past two years – “more than [in] any other industry”, the safety charity comments, contrasting this sector with construction (where 22% of workers reported experiencing […]
Digital solution saves time and decreases incident risks Described by some as the “seafarer’s friend”, Permit to Work (PtW) systems are an essential safeguard to minimise the risk of accidents and incidents on board ships. The mandatory process is used to authorise controlled work in both standard and nonstandard, potentially hazardous conditions – such […]
Liferaft servicing is a necessity, not an option, but society’s wider shift from product ownership to the service-based economy is being felt even in this unexpected area In 2016, a World Economic Forum blog by Danish politician Ida Auken caused an unexpected stir by predicting that, in 2030, “I don’t own anything. I don’t own […]
Absence of regulatory mandate means safety and financial benefits of structural health monitoring systems are not being realised, writes Niklas Hallgren, CEO, Light Structures Structural health monitoring (SHM) has the potential to revolutionise maritime safety by enabling real-time insight into vessel integrity, yet comprehensive regulations mandating these systems are conspicuously absent. Regulations and classification have […]
The 4,200km River Niger was the backdrop for the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association’s (WFSA’s) 11th Annual International Student Design Competition for a Safe, Affordable Ferry. Having previously encouraged student naval architects, designers and engineers to devise workable, safe and affordable ferry solutions for waterways including the Amazon, the Brahmaputra, the Pasig River, the Chao Phraya […]