News Hound, Author at The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS)

ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026 published

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by News Hound

The ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026 features insights from a record number of industry leaders, offering a comprehensive overview of how this resilient sector is evolving to maintain world trade in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment. A clear theme runs throughout the findings: geopolitical instability continues to act as an underlying force shaping both the risks faced by the industry and the conditions under which it is transitioning. Continue reading “ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026 published”

AMSA National Compliance Plan for 2026–27 outlined

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by News Hound

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)has published its National Compliance Plan 2026–27, outlining a risk-based approach to improving maritime safety, strengthening compliance and protecting seafarers across Australia’s shipping industry. The plan sets out how AMSA will target high-risk areas over the next 12 months, including conducting at least 2,400 Port State Control inspections on foreign-flagged vessels and 2,300 inspections on domestic commercial vessels. Continue reading “AMSA National Compliance Plan for 2026–27 outlined”

Engine room fire risk highlighted due to auxiliary engine erosion plug failure

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by News Hound

Fire in the engine room remains the most common and costly risk in Hull and Machinery insurance, due to the combination of flammable materials, complex machinery and human factors, according to Skuld Club. Skuld has seen recent cases of engine room fires due to (fusible) erosion plug failure. An erosion plug failure in a fuel pump can cause engine room fires by allowing pressurised fuel to escape as a fine spray, which can ignite instantly upon contact with hot surfaces. An erosion plug is a safety device built into fuel pumps, and particularly in high-pressure fuel pumps. Continue reading “Engine room fire risk highlighted due to auxiliary engine erosion plug failure”

Fire safety and ageing ships signal PSC compliance pressure in Port State Control Annual Report 2026

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by News Hound

With 425 detentions and 1,752 detainable deficiencies recorded in 2025 across the ClassNK fleet, the Port State Control Annual Report 2026 sends a clear message to shipping: PSC readiness depends on daily maintenance, crew familiarity and a living Safety Management System, not last-minute preparation.

ClassNK issued its Port State Control Annual Report in June 2026, providing an overview of PSC detention trends and detainable deficiencies identified on ClassNK-classed ships during 2025. Continue reading “Fire safety and ageing ships signal PSC compliance pressure in Port State Control Annual Report 2026”

Maritime Safety Week 2026

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by News Hound

SMS is the main theme for this year's Maritime Safety Week. — SMS is the main theme for this year’s Maritime Safety Week.

The UK Maritime Safety Week 2026 took place from 6-10 July. To mark this occasion, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents at the UK MAIB, Rob Loder, writes Beyond the binder: making safety management systems work at sea.

Every year, Maritime Safety Week gives the industry a chance to pause and ask a difficult question: are we really doing enough to keep seafarers safe? This year, I want to focus on safety management systems (SMS) and the importance of closing the gap between safety in theory and safety in practice. Continue reading “Maritime Safety Week 2026”

WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025

Posted on July 6, 2026July 7, 2026 by News Hound

The World Shipping Council (WSC) Containers Lost at Sea 2026 Report revealed that an estimated 1,478 containers, two-and-a-half times the 576 lost in 2024.

In 2025 approximately 280 million containers were transported globally, which meant the 1,478 lost was equivalent to 0.0005 percent of those transported.

The 2025 figure is above the recent three-year average. This was strongly influenced by several discrete but significant incidents, with one major vessel loss accounting for 640 containers, or approximately 43 percent of all containers lost during the year. Continue reading “WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025”

Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025

Posted on July 3, 2026July 8, 2026 by News Hound

The Paris MoU has published its 2025 Annual Report with a total of 16,474 inspections recorded last year. In 2025, there were 9,879 were inspections with deficiencies, 688 detentions and 19 bannings.

Bans, detentions and deficiencies

During 2025, the number of refusals-of-access (bans) increased to 19, marking a rise following several years of relatively low figures.

The detention rate also trended upward, reaching 4.18% in 2025, Continue reading “Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025”

Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code

Posted on July 2, 2026July 7, 2026 by News Hound

A landmark international code, the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code, was published on 1 July, paving the way for stronger, clearer global standards supporting technology, innovation and safety at sea.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched the non-mandatory MASS Code which provides the first international regulatory framework for remotely operated and autonomous cargo ships covered under SOLAS Chapter I. It was drafted at the IMO with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) taking a leading role to uphold UK interests. The UK will ultimately use the high-level principles to bring forward national legislation in close consultation with the maritime sector. Continue reading “Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code”

AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025

Posted on July 2, 2026July 2, 2026 by News Hound

AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published its Marine Incident Annual Report 2025, revealing it had received a total of 4,174 marine incident reports along with 452 marine safety concerns.

The Report analyses marine incidents across domestic commercial vessels (DCVs), foreign-flagged vessels (FFVs) and regulated Australian vessels (RAVs), identifying trends across the entire fleet over the past five years. Continue reading “AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025”

Deckhand died after falling overboard potting vessel Amadeus in North Sea

Posted on July 2, 2026July 3, 2026 by News Hound

Exhaustion combined with ineffective fall prevention measures led to a fatal man overboard incident on crab potting vessel Amadeus (TH7). The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the incident. They have also published a safety flyer to the fishing industry about the dangers of pot hauling and the need for effective fall prevention measures, including fatigue management. Continue reading “Deckhand died after falling overboard potting vessel Amadeus in North Sea”

Strategy centre stage at this year’s REG Conference

Posted on July 1, 2026July 2, 2026 by News Hound

Delegates from all over the world gathered in Bermuda recently to discuss maritime strategy, future fuels, security and more, at the annual Red Ensign Group (REG) Conference 2026.

Three days of discussion, sharing expertise and networking, the REG Conference serves as a strategic forum for open and productive exchange among REG members, enabling the development and agreement of short and long-term priorities across the maritime sector. The Conference strengthens collaboration between British maritime administrations, promotes compliance with flag, port and coastal State obligations, and helps enhance the quality and reputation of the Red Ensign. Continue reading “Strategy centre stage at this year’s REG Conference”

Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026

Posted on June 25, 2026June 25, 2026 by News Hound

The Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026 has been published and is available to download now. It highlights geopolitical conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a major factor that shaped shipping risk and activity.

According to Allianz, incidents like the closure and reported mining of the Strait of Hormuz signal a transition toward a “new maritime order” defined by escalating security risks along strategic shipping corridors, the disruption of established trade routes, persistent uncertainty, higher risk premiums, and a greater strategic emphasis on resilience over pure cost efficiency. Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026”

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