IIMS News

NTSB publishes Safer Seas Digest 2025 highlighting the same safety problems occurring

Posted on by News Hound
NTSB publishes Safer Seas Digest 2025 highlighting the same safety problems occurring
NTSB publishes Safer Seas Digest 2025 highlighting the same safety problems occurring

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published Safer Seas Digest 2025, a collection of safety lessons drawn from the NTSB’s marine investigations completed in 2025.

The annual publication provides the marine community with a concise look at what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent similar casualties in the future. The 2025 digest examines 49 investigations that looked at accidents including capsizings, collisions, contacts with fixed objects, fires, floodings, groundings, and machinery damage. Continue reading “NTSB publishes Safer Seas Digest 2025 highlighting the same safety problems occurring”

CEO Blog: September 2026

Posted on by CEO

Three little, but often misunderstood words – safety management system, or SMS for short – have been everywhere in the maritime news recently. Yes, SMS seems to be the current buzz phrase of the day! I have seen an alarming increase in incident and accident reporting that references SMS failures and non-adherence as the primary causes.

So, what’s going wrong? Why is the SMS being overlooked or, worse of all, simply ignored? This is the central theme of my column this month. Let me start by giving you a few pointers and examples to focus your mind, as it has done mine: Continue reading “CEO Blog: September 2026”

Beware of improperly calibrated portable atmosphere testing instruments

Posted on by News Hound
The GX-9000 Portable Multi Gas Detector (shown here) is just one example
The GX-9000 Portable Multi Gas Detector (shown here) is just one example

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has issued a warning for operators following rising USCG deficiencies linked to improperly calibrated portable atmosphere testing instruments.

RMI clarified that portable atmosphere testing instruments must be calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This can be done either on board the vessel or ashore, in line with IMO guidance and SOLAS requirements (International Maritime Organization Circular MSC.1/Circ.1561, compliance with the provision “suitable means shall be provided for the calibration of all such instruments” in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Regulation XI-1/7). Calibration must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Continue reading “Beware of improperly calibrated portable atmosphere testing instruments”

UK Club urges pre-load surveys to mitigate steel cargo claims

Posted on by News Hound
UK Club urges pre-load surveys to mitigate steel cargo claims
UK Club urges pre-load surveys to mitigate steel cargo claims

The carriage of steel cargoes is frequently associated with cargo claims, often involving allegations of rust, mechanical damage, indentation, bending, contamination or other defects arising during the voyage. In some cases, however, such damage may have been present before the cargo was loaded, according to the UK Club.

Petar Modev, Head of Ship Inspections, UK Club, explained that a properly conducted pre-loading steel survey can help establish the apparent condition of the cargo before shipment and support an accurate description of its condition in the relevant shipping documents. Continue reading “UK Club urges pre-load surveys to mitigate steel cargo claims”

Machinery failures remain major driver of marine hull claims

Posted on by News Hound
Machinery failures remain major driver of marine hull claims
Machinery failures remain major driver of marine hull claims

Marine hull insurance claims costs remain elevated, while an ageing insured fleet and rising vessel values are increasing risk exposure, according to the Mid-year hull report from the Nordic Association of Marine Insurers (Cefor).

The first half of 2026 marked the fourth consecutive year with claims exceeding USD 50 million. Overall claims costs were slightly lower than in 2024 and 2025, mainly due to fewer claims in the USD 10-50 million range and less severe fire losses. Major losses above USD 50 million have re-emerged since 2023 and continued in 2026, commonly involving fires, collisions and groundings. Continue reading “Machinery failures remain major driver of marine hull claims”

Non-compliant wood packaging puts shipments at risk

Posted on by News Hound
Non-compliant wood packaging puts shipments at risk
Non-compliant wood packaging puts shipments at risk

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has drawn attention to the often-overlooked risks that non-compliant wood packaging material (WPM) can pose to international cargo shipments. In a new guidance paper, IUMI examines the insurance implications of failing to comply with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), the international standard governing the use of wood packaging such as pallets, crates and dunnage in global trade. Continue reading “Non-compliant wood packaging puts shipments at risk”

USCG urges checks of the material condition of ageing fiberglass lifeboats

Posted on by News Hound
USCG urges checks of the material condition of ageing fiberglass lifeboats
USCG urges checks of the material condition of ageing fiberglass lifeboats

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety alert to check the material condition of ageing fiberglass lifeboats and the need for thorough inspections of hook release systems and load-bearing components.

The safety alert addresses the importance of verifying the material condition of lifeboat fibreglass structures, metal components, and the hook release systems that secure lifeboats to ship davits. The Coast Guard is investigating a marine casualty in which a lifeboat suffered a fibreglass failure at the base of the hook release during launch, causing it to fall into the water and resulting in a total loss. This failure occurred despite regular, manufacturer-recommended inspections. Continue reading “USCG urges checks of the material condition of ageing fiberglass lifeboats”

Lifejackets set to become compulsory on small craft in New Zealand

Posted on by News Hound
Lifejackets set to become compulsory on small craft in New Zealand
Lifejackets set to become compulsory on small craft in New Zealand

Parliament has passed the Maritime Transport (Lifejackets on Recreational Craft) Amendment Bill. Everyone aboard a recreational vessel of six metres or under will need to wear a properly fitted lifejacket, or another approved personal flotation device, whenever the boat is moving as lifejackets set to become compulsory on all small craft. The rule becomes law 28 days after the Bill receives Royal Assent, the final formality before it takes effect.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager is behind the push, citing 17 deaths in recreational boating incidents last year, 12 of them people who weren’t wearing a lifejacket. He’s called the deaths preventable and the new rule a common-sense fix that’s been a long time coming. Continue reading “Lifejackets set to become compulsory on small craft in New Zealand”

India tightens loading rules for iron ore fines and Group A cargoes

Posted on by News Hound
India tightens loading rules for iron ore fines and Group A cargoes
India tightens loading rules for iron ore fines and Group A cargoes

Vessels heading to Indian ports to load iron ore fines and other Group A cargoes should note the revised procedure for loading, sailing clearance and surveys according to London P&I Club’s correspondent James Mackintosh & Co. Pvt. Ltd.

Following the very recent loss of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner, the Principal Officer, MMD Kolkata has, with immediate effect, imposed additional controls on the loading and sailing of vessels carrying iron ore fines, sand and other Group A (liquefiable) cargoes from ports under Kolkata Port jurisdiction, this would include Kolkata, Haldia, Budge Budge, Diamond Harbour, Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur and Port Blair. Continue reading “India tightens loading rules for iron ore fines and Group A cargoes”

Lessons learned on enclosed space entry after trainee seafarer dies on board Federal Indiana

Posted on by News Hound
Lessons learned on enclosed space entry after trainee seafarer dies on board Federal Indiana. Source: RMI Maritime Administrator.
Lessons learned on enclosed space entry after trainee seafarer dies on board Federal Indianaa. Source: RMI Maritime Administrator.

A trainee seafarer dies on board Federal Indiana after being found unconscious near the entrance of an access space on board the bulk carrier, which was transporting scrap metal, according to a report released by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator.

The trainee seafarer had served on board Federal Indiana for only 4.9 months before the incident that killed them.

What happened

On the morning of 19 February 2025, Federal Indiana was underway in the Mediterranean Sea, laden with scrap metal divided over the six cargo holds on board. The Company had assessed scrap metal as an oxygen depleting cargo that could emit toxic gases. Continue reading “Lessons learned on enclosed space entry after trainee seafarer dies on board Federal Indiana”

Updated EU marine equipment directive requirements now in force

Posted on by News Hound
Credit: DNV
Credit: DNV

The 10th Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1434 that amended the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) 2014/90/EU came into force on 31 August 2026.

And DNV has explained what this update means.

DNV’s essential points:

  • No new MED equipment was introduced, but the 10th Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1434 updates requirements and test standards for a wide range of existing equipment.
  • Transition period: Marine equipment already compliant with national type-approval requirements before 23 September 2025 may continue to be placed on the market and installed on EU ships until 23 September 2028.
  • Manufacturers must ensure products comply with the updated regulation from 31 August 2026. Any Declarations of Conformity (DoC) issued after this date must reference the 10th Implementing Regulation, and some products may require new or additional testing before DNV can issue updated MED certificates.

Continue reading “Updated EU marine equipment directive requirements now in force”

What caught my eye: September 2026

Posted on by CEO

Seventh European International Submarine Races concludes with new record

What a joyous and quirky story this is. An event dedicated to human-powered submarines. This should be an Olympic sport!

The 2026 European International Submarine Races took place at QinetiQ’s Ocean Basin in Gosport, UK, with five days of competition between university teams from around the world. Defending champions Team OMER, from École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) in Montréal, retained their title, winning the Hill Trophy and recording the fastest run of the competition at 6.36 knots. Continue reading “What caught my eye: September 2026”

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