The IIMS Annual General Meeting 2026 was held on 2 June. Often rather dry events, an AGM is a vital part of what any Institute or Association does once a year. It was a great opportunity to inform and share the many activities being undertaken by IIMS with an engaged online audience. My thanks to all those who voted this year – looking at our records, we logged the highest number of votes in memory – and especially to those who took time out from their busy schedules to join us online as we broadcast the event live from IIMS HQ at Murrills House. The management board, many of whom were at Murrills House in person, were joined by the IIMS team along with nearly 80 other members online.
As I prepared my CEO report ahead of the AGM, it gave me the chance to reflect in depth on the work of the Institute over the last period. There were a couple of highlights in particular that I shared with delegates, which I want to mention again now for those who were unable to attend. Firstly, IIMS has paid off the mortgage on Murrills House, which means we now own the real estate outright, an asset that is estimated to be valued between £800k and £1 million. This extraordinary achievement gives me huge personal pride when I think back a dozen years to when I started and how challenging our financial position was then. We have come a long way! To have achieved this still seems unthinkable, and without doubt ranks as one of my proudest accomplishments as CEO. It sets the Institute up financially for the future.
The second matter of importance is to inform you about two Lifetime Achievement Awards that were announced and presented at the meeting to two stalwarts and veterans of the Institute. This was one of the new President, Mike Proudlove’s, first formal duties, and we managed to spring an unexpected surprise on Capt John Noble, who was at the meeting in person. Sadly, John Heath was unable to be present at the event to receive his award. Both men have made not only an outstanding contribution to the maritime sector for over half a century, but they have also served IIMS with distinction for many years. It was great to see both individuals honoured and recognised. See elsewhere in this news bulletin for photographs.
The good news continues to flow following what proved to be a rather hectic and chaotic June.
IIMS exhibited at this year’s Seawork exhibition, Europe’s largest workboat show, held at Southampton from 9-11 June. It is an event we really do enjoy being part of. Meeting members and other industry personnel is something I very much enjoy, and this year’s event proved to be the best and most productive I have attended. Sharing space on the Workboat Association stand, our booth was constantly busy. I was delighted to catch up with so many students, industry friends and colleagues, including those from our competitors too! I have devoted space to this event elsewhere in this news bulletin.
Following immediately in the wake of Seawork was our annual ISO 9001 audit. This year, we decided to extend the scope of our existing certification to bring the IIMS Certifying Authority into scope. This meant the audit turned from a one-day event to a two-day event! My thanks to General Manager, Camella Robertson, who also wears the hat of Quality Manager and to Dave Parsons, who manages our Certifying Authority department, both of whom were influential at the audit conducted by DNV auditors.
The outcome is that I am delighted to report that the existing scope and extended scope have been approved for certification with no major and no minor non-conformities. This is a significant achievement indeed.
As we enter the second half of 2026, I want to draw your attention to the high number of incidents and accidents we have seen, many resulting in fatalities, sadly. I know to some, I will sound like a ‘broken record’, but as we start to prepare and collate edition VI of the IIMS Safety & Loss Prevention Compendium, I have to say I am shocked at the continuing high level of loss of life and the sheer number of maritime assets impacted and lost.
Of course, highlighting the issue that the industry continues to face is not of much help on its own. Action is needed. What bothers me and is most troubling of all is the repeating nature of some of the incidents. Deaths in enclosed spaces are one such example. Accidents in enclosed spaces continue at an unacceptably high level. Three more dead in one incident last month alone. Why can’t we learn and understand from previous accidents? Is it a lack of training? Complacency? Lack of common sense? Or just a feeling of ‘it won’t happen to me’. I wish I had the answer.
Sticking with the theme of enclosed spaces, I have always been sceptical about remote surveying in general, but the work of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore is causing me to think again. Their Remote Inspection Technique (RIT) uses drones and UAVs operated on board by trained surveyors to inspect hazardous confined spaces like ballast tanks and cargo holds, reducing the need for direct human entry. This approach is designed to improve safety and efficiency compared with traditional inspections, which often require multiple personnel entering high-risk environments. BV estimates RIT can reduce confined-space entry risks by 60–70%. Now this really is progress, and keeping people out of those spaces can only be a good thing and will save lives. Hurrah!
Survey well
Mike Schwarz, CEO