Demand for advanced propeller retrofits and energy saving devices (ESDs) has nearly quadrupled since 2020 as shipping owners and operators look to enhance energy efficiency to meet tightening emissions regulations. However, according to a new Lloyd’s Register (LR) report: Energy saving devices retrofit report: Applying advanced propeller designs to ships, while high-efficiency propellers can deliver fuel savings of between 3-10%, and popular devices such as rudder bulbs can achieve 3.5% reductions, only 1.74% of the global fleet currently features the rudder bulb, the most popular device, from newbuild. Continue reading “LR: Propeller retrofits surge but adoption remains limited”
IIMS News
DNV on increasing maritime safety incidents and ageing fleet
According to DNV’s latest report, Maritime Safety Trends 2014-2024 – Preparing for future risks, the number of maritime safety incidents increased by 42% between 2018 and 2024, while during the same period the global fleet grew by just 10%. Driven mainly by an ageing fleet and machine damage/failure, the findings highlight the risks connected with operating older ships, often more prone to faults, groundings, and fire-related incidents. Continue reading “DNV on increasing maritime safety incidents and ageing fleet”
Marine battery systems: are current standards enough?
The report Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply, published by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore in May 2025, takes a critical look at the regulatory framework for shipboard energy storage systems (ESS) and onshore power supply (OPS) solutions. At a time when lithium-ion batteries are becoming central to the electrification of the world fleet, the document points to standards that are still fragmented, often optional, and insufficiently binding. This gap could compromise crew safety and slow down the adoption of these technologies. Continue reading “Marine battery systems: are current standards enough?”
Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster
The system for responding to incidents in the North Sea needs to be put in order as soon as possible. That will require improved communication and information sharing between the Coastguard Centre and its cooperating organisations on shore. This is the conclusion of the Dutch Safety Board in its investigation of the emergency response to the fire that broke out on board the car carrier Fremantle Highway during the night of 25 to 26 July 2023. Continue reading “Investigation report released on Fremantle Highway disaster”
IMCA Safety Statistics Report 2024: Line of Fire incidents leading cause of LTIs
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published its annual Safety Statistics Report, showing that ‘line of fire’ incidents remained the leading cause of lost time injuries (LTIs) among IMCA marine contractor Members in 2024, accounting for more than half (52%) of such injuries. The research, which IMCA has published each year since 1996, found that the total lost-time injury rate (LTIR) across its contributing Members’ onshore and offshore operations remained unchanged at 0.3 incidents per million hours worked. Continue reading “IMCA Safety Statistics Report 2024: Line of Fire incidents leading cause of LTIs”
Panama implements new Precheck for vessels joining its registry
The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has implemented an additional safeguard called Precheck, a screening process that aims to ensure only compliant vessels join the Panama Ship Registry. The Precheck process involves a thorough risk assessment of various aspects related to the vessel, its owner, operator, and/or charterer before applying for the entry into the Panama Ship Registry to ensure that the vessel meets the international standards regarding safety, environmental protection, crew welfare, and to promote cooperation and best practices in the maritime industry.
According to the PMA, a key benefit of Precheck is its ability to prevent “flag-hopping”, a practice where vessels jump from one registry to another to avoid compliance, evade sanctions, or engage in illicit activities. Continue reading “Panama implements new Precheck for vessels joining its registry”
Black Sea MoU Annual Report 2024
The Black Sea MoU has published its Annual Report for 2024, detailing its actions and presenting key Port State Control (PSC) data. The 2024 reporting period was significantly impacted by the ongoing armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which continued to pose serious risks to the safety and security of crews and vessels operating in the region, conflicting with the BS MoU’s objectives. Continue reading “Black Sea MoU Annual Report 2024”
What caught my eye: May 2025
What a shocker! Four in ten people lack a ‘basic understanding’ of how tides work, reveals new survey.
I have often spoken about sea blindness, both in my professional and personal life. By that I mean that most people have little idea, or concept, of what actually goes on at sea, the accidents and incidents that occur and the inherent dangers of the water. So, with that in mind, perhaps the findings of this research, which was commissioned through Bangor University’s Impact and Innovation Fund, do not surprise me, shocking though they are.
The study surveyed 1,368 participants across the UK and Ireland. It revealed that approximately 15 per cent of respondents Continue reading “What caught my eye: May 2025”
MAIB issues interim report on the sinking of the Bayesian
The key headline from the Bayesian interim report is that the yacht took less than 15 seconds to heel irrecoverably.
The UK-based Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report is the first official such document to be published into the sinking of the Bayesian which resulted in seven deaths off Sicily, including that of the yacht’s owner Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah in August 2024.
As part of the Bayesian interim report, MAIB investigators have pieced together the sequence of events, the movements of the 10 crew and 12 guests onboard, and the rapid timeline of the sudden tragedy. Continue reading “MAIB issues interim report on the sinking of the Bayesian”
Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas
In a significant move to strengthen maritime safety across the UK, the Department for Transport has issued an updated version of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) with clear expectations that marinas and other non-statutory marine facilities bring their safety practices in line with the national framework.
Originally introduced in 2000, the PMSC has long applied to statutory harbour authorities. However, the latest revision now explicitly includes all marine facilities, including privately operated marinas, piers, jetties, and terminals, even when located outside of traditional harbour jurisdictions. Continue reading “Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas”
Consultation on changes to requirements for through hull openings following flooding incident
The Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR), on behalf of the Red Ensign Group (REG), has released an urgent safety flyer to the yachting industry following a serious flooding incident caused by the hull openings involving a commercially operated 375 GT motor yacht during a routine personal watercraft (PWC) recovery.
The incident occurred during calm sea conditions but escalated rapidly when the vessel, engaged in water sports operations, was struck by a series of large, unexpected waves. At the time, the transom and port side shell doors were open, and the yacht had developed a port list due to lifting operations. The sudden water ingress overwhelmed the bilge system, disabled the hydraulics, and rendered the shell doors inoperable, ultimately forcing the vessel’s Master to beach the yacht to prevent capsize. No injuries or environmental damage occurred thanks to decisive onboard actions. Continue reading “Consultation on changes to requirements for through hull openings following flooding incident”
USCG uncovers significant lack of hazardous material compliance
US Coast Guard Sector New York personnel conducted three warehouse spot checks at the Port of New York and New Jersey during the last week of April, uncovering a 60% deficiency rate in hazardous material compliance.
The targeted inspections, driven by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) container screening data, are part of an expanded effort to detect undeclared hazardous cargo before it can pose a threat to port safety or vessel crews. When CBP identifies anomalies or items of interest during targeted container inspections, they now routinely notify Coast Guard Sector New York personnel, who follow up with specialized checks focused on undeclared hazardous materials. Continue reading “USCG uncovers significant lack of hazardous material compliance”