A leisure sailor and IIMS member and his inexperienced ex-Team GB crewmate are moving from their sofas onto a tiny 17ft sailboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean in aid of charity. In December 2023, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw, a Yacht and Small Craft Marine Surveyor, and his crewmate Farris Collins will take on an incredible challenge as they cross 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, unassisted in a tiny upcycled 50-year-old ‘Leisure 17’ sailboat, which has been nicknamed their ‘dinghy with a lid’. The pair aim to raise £100,000 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS-UK, and St Helena Hospice. MS-UK and St Helena Hospice are based in Colchester, Essex, UK. Continue reading “From ‘Sofa to Sailboat’ a unique challenge for one IIMS member”
A recent Safety Flash from 
The United States Coast Guard (
The 107th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 107) from 31 May to 9 June 2023 has adopted new requirements in order to improve safety, including mandatory requirements for lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, and new mandatory requirements for ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats.
Notice to all shipowners, masters, deck and engineer officers, certifying authorities and surveyors involved with yachts. This MGN notice should be read with the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code Parts A and B.
Cargo fires are a well known challenge amongst shipping industry stakeholders. Fire onboard can result in major casualties, including loss of life. Yet, fire safety remains the most common ship deficiency area.
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is an independent, national charity campaigning for Britain’s canals and rivers, and Niblock will have primary responsibility for the organisation’s long-term strategy.
The European Commission has presented five legislative proposals to modernise EU rules on maritime safety and prevent water pollution from ships. The proposals will equip the EU with new tools to support clean and modern shipping. They will align EU rules with international regulations, securing a level-playing field for the sector while improving implementation and enforcement through digitalisation and more EU cooperation.
The Cargo Fire & Loss Innovation Initiative is calling for innovators to come forward with solutions for early-stage fire detection, one of the most important issues in the drive to mitigate container loss.
The National Transportation Safety Board (