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Royal honour for yachtsman, author and IIMS Honorary Fellow, Ian Nicolson

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Royal honour for yachtsman, author and IIMS Honorary Fellow, Ian Nicolson
Royal honour for yachtsman, author and IIMS Honorary Fellow, Ian Nicolson

News has reached the IIMS head office about a prestigious Royal award that has recently been given to the Institute’s oldest member. Ian Nicolson is still surveying, winning races and writing books at the grand old age of 97.

Ian, who lives in Cove, Scotland, will receive an MBE after being included in the King’s Birthday Honours List last month.

And, just last month, he won the CYCA two-handed class at the Scottish Series on Loch Fyne and has since competed again in the Round Bute Race, partnered by a relative youngster aged just 80. An expert in surveying, yacht design and restoration, he has published 27 books (including several handy guides through IIMS) and is still writing. Continue reading “Royal honour for yachtsman, author and IIMS Honorary Fellow, Ian Nicolson”

TSB final report says Titan submersible operated without oversight

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TSB final report says Titan submersible operated without oversight
TSB final report says Titan submersible operated without oversight

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible.  On June 18, 2023, the Titan submersible, owned by U.S. based company OceanGate, imploded while descending to the wreck of the Titanic with five people on board.  As a result of its investigation, TSB has also issued six recommendations.

At the time of the incident, the operation was supported by a Canadian cargo vessel operated by Canadian company Horizon Maritime Services Ltd., the Polar Prince, which towed the Titan from St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to dive locations, and provided a base for OceanGate’s operations at sea. Horizon Maritime also provided this service to OceanGate in 2021 and 2022. Continue reading “TSB final report says Titan submersible operated without oversight”

FMG Nicola engine shutdown due to erroneous switch activation

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FMG Nicola. Source: ATSB
FMG Nicola. Source: ATSB

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) has said that bulk carrier FMG Nicola’s went adrift after a main engine emergency shutdown switch erroneously activated.

What happened

On 7 February 2025, the fully laden bulk carrier FMG Nicola was departing Port Hedland under the conduct of 2 marine pilots with 3 tugs in attendance. At 1515 local time, about 5 miles into the pilotage, FMG Nicola’s main engine unexpectedly shut down. An emergency was declared, and the pilots immediately took action to control the ship’s movement Continue reading “FMG Nicola engine shutdown due to erroneous switch activation”

Tow rope failure injured crew on board tug Svitzer Avon

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Tow rope failure injured crew on board tug Svitzer Avon.Photo credit: Marko VesselFinder
Tow rope failure injured crew on board tug Svitzer Avon. Photo credit: Marko VesselFinder

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has closed an investigation into an incident that left two injured.

The tug Svitzer Avon crewmembers were hurt after the vessel’s tow rope snapped and shattered the wheelhouse windows.

The MAIB investigated a similar accident involving Svitzer Mercurius in 2019, resulting in a recommendation 2022/138 to Svitzer Marine Limited to:

“Undertake a fleetwide risk assessment to determine the level of risk associated Continue reading “Tow rope failure injured crew on board tug Svitzer Avon”

Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

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Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report
Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

Between 2016 and 2025, 17 bulk carriers of more than 10,000 deadweight tonnes were reported lost, with a tragic 71 seafarer deaths, according to an INTERCARGO annual report.

And cargo liquefaction remains the greatest contributor to loss of life with 37 lives – 52.1% of the total loss of life in the past ten years.

INTERCARGO’s annual Bulk Carrier Casualty Report examines the safety performance of bulk carriers over a rolling 10-year period in order to identify risks and improve safety for seafarers and vessel operations. Continue reading “Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report”

Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

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Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding
Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety alert after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a USCG inspected deep draft vessel.

In February 2026. a U.S. flagged crude oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed emergency collars supplied by the seal manufacturer and used the vessel’s emergency bilge system to remove the water. Continue reading “Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding”

UK Maritime Innovation Hub is now live

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UK Maritime Innovation Hub is now live
UK Maritime Innovation Hub is now live

An initiative to help the UK’s marine sector become safer and reach decarbonisation goals has been launched. The UK Maritime Innovation Hub, a service of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), will be providing coordinated access to regulatory engagement for organisations developing innovative maritime technologies.

As maritime technologies evolve, timely engagement between innovators and the regulator is increasingly important. The UK Maritime Innovation Hub supports early dialogue to help organisations understand regulatory considerations, explore available pathways, and identify appropriate next steps. Continue reading “UK Maritime Innovation Hub is now live”

IMO 2010 HNS Convention to enter into force in 2027

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IMO 2010 HNS Convention to enter into force in 2027
IMO 2010 HNS Convention to enter into force in 2027

The International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (IMO 2010 HNS Convention) is set to come into effect on 29 November 2027.

The 2010 HNS Convention establishes the first international compensation regime for accidents involving hazardous and noxious substances carried by sea.

Continue reading “IMO 2010 HNS Convention to enter into force in 2027”

Royal College of Art to develop low-cost marine aids to navigation

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A yellow and blue marine aid to navigation with the word wreck painted on.
Harwich depot where Trinity House services UK aids to navigation

The Royal College of Art (RCA) has launched a new transformative design initiative to enhance maritime safety in Small Islands and Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

This three-year project awarded with a combined grant of £1.1m will address the safety gap in the world’s most vulnerable waterways by developing low-cost co-designed marine aids to navigation.

Currently, vessels at sea rely on aids to navigation (AtoN) Continue reading “Royal College of Art to develop low-cost marine aids to navigation”

Do you know why a Ship Structural Access Manual is required onboard?

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The Ship Structural Access Manual is an essential document
The Ship Structural Access Manual is an essential document

Maintaining a ship’s structural condition requires regular surveys and inspections throughout its operational life and the Ship Structural Access Manual is an integral part of this process. These checks help ensure that structural components remain free from damage, such as cracks, buckling, deformation, corrosion, or thickness diminution beyond acceptable limits.

For this reason, suitable means of access to the hull structure are essential, enabling safe and effective overall and close-up inspections, as well as thickness measurements. Continue reading “Do you know why a Ship Structural Access Manual is required onboard?”

Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

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Responding to an engine high temperature alarm
Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

According to the U.S Coast Guard, a fire aboard a small passenger vessel resulted in the death of one passenger, injuries to multiple passengers, and the total loss of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the fire yielded several findings that warrant immediate review by all vessel operators.

While underway, in response to a high jacket water-temperature alarm, the master shifted Continue reading “Responding to an engine high temperature alarm”

Mike Proudlove takes over as IIMS President

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Mike Proudlove (left) accepting the President's medal from IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, at the 2026 AGM
Mike Proudlove (left) accepting the President’s medal from IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, at the 2026 AGM

At the IIMS Annual General Meeting, broadcast live from the Institute’s headquarters on Tuesday 2 June, long-standing member, Mike Proudlove FIIMS, took over as the next President. He will serve a two-year term.

In handing over the reins to Mike, the outgoing President, Capt Ruchin Dayal, gave a passionate final address from his Goa location as he spoke to an audience of nearly 100 members and other interested parties (in-person and online). He said how honoured he has been to have carried out the role of IIMS President and offered some highlights of his time in office, one being last year’s high-profile Goa Continue reading “Mike Proudlove takes over as IIMS President”

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