It troubles me once again that I feel the need to start this month’s column by raising the topic of lithium-ion battery fires, especially as the story I want to share with you is a land-based one that happened recently, and not a maritime disaster. You may know of my keen interest in this technology and the challenges surrounding it. The incident I want to speak about, and share with you, is a massive fire in the Scottish city of Glasgow. A major fire broke out in a vape shop adjacent to the city’s main railway station. Over the coming hours, the fire Continue reading “CEO Blog: April 2026”
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What caught my eye: April 2026
Community mural brings a splash of colour to Doncaster Lock
The UK canal network has provided me with inspiration once again, and not for the first time. Doncaster is a medium size city in the north of the UK. Volunteers have completed a vibrant mural at Doncaster Lock to celebrate the city’s heritage and encourage more boaters to experience this part of the waterway network.
Created by local artist Kate Rhodes, with assistance from volunteer lock keeper and ex-boater Jan Miller, the mural – measuring more than 10 metres long Continue reading “What caught my eye: April 2026”
CEO blog: March 2026
This month, I want to address the matter of recurring safety issues in our industry, and I pose the simple question, to which there is no easy answer: “What are the barriers to progress?” Of course, I don’t have the answers, but as a joined up, interconnected industry, perhaps we could do as we seek to make incisive inroads into ship, crew and vessel safety. Over the years, the realisation for enhanced safety training and mechanisms has grown and is now accepted as the norm, as has their implementation, but still, we see the same old type of incidents and accidents recurring. Continue reading “CEO blog: March 2026”
What caught my eye: March 2026
Matagorda Pilot Transfer painting by Joey Blazek
Of course, the sea, ships and boats have inspired artists for centuries – as well as me, although my artistic skills are not at the level of Joey Blazek! The original work of art (pictured right), entitled Matagorda Pilot Transfer, was painted by US artist Joey Blazek and measures 30 by 48 inches. It depicts a dramatic scene of a pilot transfer underway, and his expressive style of painting really caught my eye.
His paintings focus primarily on the US coastal South, including Continue reading “What caught my eye: March 2026”
CEO blog: February 2026
You do not need me to remind you that we are surrounded by innovative, marine sector tech on all fronts, racing ahead and burgeoning, seemingly at a pace I can’t recall at any point in my lifetime. And as one gets older (rather like me these days), it is easy to turn a blind eye to what’s happening, and to plough on with what we know, accepting the norm, hoping it will all just go away. But of course, it doesn’t, so we must try and embrace what’s new and cope with the inevitable change and resulting disruption to our lives it brings.
For younger and less experienced marine surveyors, I’d suggest ignoring what is Continue reading “CEO blog: February 2026”
What caught my eye: February 2026
Llangollen Canal breach
For my first two stories this month, I turned to the UK inland waterways, always a source of inspiration. The first story is shocking as you are about to find out.
Just before the Christmas holidays, a severe breach occurred on the Llangollen Canal near New Mills Lift Bridge, Whitchurch, with devastating consequences for several boaters. Footage of this extraordinary event shot around the UK news channels as it made the headlines. Continue reading “What caught my eye: February 2026”
CEO blog: January 2026
A belated welcome to 2026 and a Happy New Year to you and your family. In a turbulent world, may it be a good and prosperous one for you.
IIMS celebrates its 35th anniversary later this year. That’s something to be proud of, and as an Institute we have come a long way in a little over a third of a century. I was curious to research and discover what a 35th wedding anniversary is known as. To my surprise and delight, I discovered it is referred to as a coral anniversary! The nautical connotations made it seem very appropriate indeed. Continue reading “CEO blog: January 2026”
What caught my eye: January 2026
The Francis Scott Key Bridge Baltimore accident: Now we know the cause
You don’t need me to remind you of the catastrophic incident in March 2024, which resulted in the MV Dali totally destroying the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six highway workers in the process. It really is one of the most spectacular and tragic maritime accidents in recent times, witnessed around the world by millions. We have covered the story in more detail elsewhere in this news bulletin, Continue reading “What caught my eye: January 2026”
CEO blog: December 2025
Well, it is not often that I find myself at the centre of the news, but so it seems this month. On my trip to Goa in September to participate in the IIMS Indian Conference, I met up with Nishit Doshi from Trader Magazine, who has closely followed the Institute’s progress over the past decade. We chatted, and I gave an exclusive interview to him. He was keen to know about my journey over the past decade, leadership ethos, and how IIMS continues to evolve and remain relevant amid sweeping changes across the maritime industry. Reading Nishit’s Continue reading “CEO blog: December 2025”
What caught my eye: December 2025
Ride the rails on Canada’s big chute marine railway
This story brought a smile to my face. The Big Chute Marine Railway is clearly unique and is arguably one of Canada’s greatest marine engineering achievements. I learned it was created out of necessity, improved through ingenuity, and maintained through environmental awareness and practicality. It’s a unique experience, unlike anything recreational boaters will find around the world. If it isn’t on your boating bucket list, I am reliably informed that it should be.
Big Chute Marine Railway is located on the Trent–Severn Waterway, a 386-kilometer meandering waterway that connects Lake Ontario Continue reading “What caught my eye: December 2025”
CEO blog: November 2025
It seems to be report season! In recent weeks, I have been bombarded with a plethora of them reaching my inbox, more than seems normal for this time of the year, from recollection. Sadly, like you, I cannot make the time to read and digest them all. But out of a sense of courtesy and duty, knowing how much time, effort and money have gone into resourcing and publishing them, I do scan-read the most relevant ones, and occasionally I am rewarded for my patience with some essential nuggets of learned wisdom.
One such recent report that grabbed my attention Continue reading “CEO blog: November 2025”
What caught my eye: October 2025
Boat naming honour for outgoing CRT chief executive
How cool to have a boat named after you. Can there be a higher accolade? I always thought a street being named after you, or a library perhaps, would be incredible, but a boat has far more cache! This was the surprise that awaited Richard Parry, the outgoing chief executive of the Canal & River Trust. Volunteers and colleagues at the charity’s base on the Grand Union’s Hatton lock flight in the UK have named a new workboat in his honour.
The 30ft work boat and hopper will be used for operational maintenance including Continue reading “What caught my eye: October 2025”