Health & Safety

Commercial fishing remains key safety issue says TSB annual report

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Commercial fishing remains safety key safety issue says TSB annual report
Commercial fishing remains safety key safety issue says TSB annual report

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) received 990 reports of marine transportation occurrences in 2025, including six fatalities, as recorded in the TSB annual report.

The total of 257 marine transportation accidents represents an increase from the 213 accidents in 2024 but is 4% below the 10-year average of 267. In 2025, 85% were shipping accidents, slightly more than 83% on average over the previous 10 years. The remaining 15% of accidents in 2025 were aboard ship (when a person is seriously or fatally injured), just below the 10-year annual average of 17%. Continue reading “Commercial fishing remains key safety issue says TSB annual report”

Manual rescue boat davits raise PSC compliance concerns

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Manual rescue boat davits raise PSC compliance concerns
Manual rescue boat davits raise PSC compliance concerns

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued guidance for cargo ships equipped with rescue boat launching appliances that rely entirely on manual operation without stored mechanical power.

The guidance follows the adoption of IMO Resolution MSC.459(101), which introduced an exemption applicable only to rescue boats installed on or after 1 January 2024. The exemption does not apply to systems installed before that date, meaning existing arrangements remain subject to previous requirements. Continue reading “Manual rescue boat davits raise PSC compliance concerns”

MTF releases new safety guidance for the growing methanol-fueled fleet

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MTF releases new safety guidance for the growing methanol-fueled fleet
MTF releases new safety guidance for the growing methanol-fueled fleet

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released new guidelines aimed at helping shipping companies develop new Safety Management Systems (SMS) and strengthen existing ones for vessels operating on methanol fuel, as the methanol-fueled fleet continues to grow.

The guidance comes as the maritime industry steps up its decarbonisation efforts and methanol gains traction as one of the most viable low-carbon marine fuels. Its ability to remain liquid at ambient temperatures, compatibility with existing fuel infrastructure and growing adoption across the sector have positioned methanol as a leading alternative fuel for the near term. Continue reading “MTF releases new safety guidance for the growing methanol-fueled fleet”

Maritime Safety Week 2026

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SMS is the main theme for this year's Maritime Safety Week.
SMS is the main theme for this year’s Maritime Safety Week.

The UK Maritime Safety Week 2026 took place from 6-10 July. To mark this occasion, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents at the UK MAIB, Rob Loder, writes Beyond the binder: making safety management systems work at sea.

Every year, Maritime Safety Week gives the industry a chance to pause and ask a difficult question: are we really doing enough to keep seafarers safe? This year, I want to focus on safety management systems (SMS) and the importance of closing the gap between safety in theory and safety in practice. Continue reading “Maritime Safety Week 2026”

WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025

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WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025
WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025

The World Shipping Council (WSC) Containers Lost at Sea 2026 Report revealed that an estimated 1,478 containers, two-and-a-half times the 576 lost in 2024.

In 2025 approximately 280 million containers were transported globally, which meant the 1,478 lost was equivalent to 0.0005 percent of those transported.

The 2025 figure is above the recent three-year average. This was strongly influenced by several discrete but significant incidents, with one major vessel loss accounting for 640 containers, or approximately 43 percent of all containers lost during the year. Continue reading “WSC report containers lost at sea more than doubled in 2025”

Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025

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Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025
Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025

The Paris MoU has published its 2025 Annual Report with a total of 16,474 inspections recorded last year. In 2025, there were 9,879 were inspections with deficiencies, 688 detentions and 19 bannings.

Bans, detentions and deficiencies

During 2025, the number of refusals-of-access (bans) increased to 19, marking a rise following several years of relatively low figures.

The detention rate also trended upward, reaching 4.18% in 2025, Continue reading “Rising detention rates and recurring areas of concern in Paris MoU Annual Report 2025”

Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code

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Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code
Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code

A landmark international code, the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code, was published on 1 July, paving the way for stronger, clearer global standards supporting technology, innovation and safety at sea.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched the non-mandatory MASS Code which provides the first international regulatory framework for remotely operated and autonomous cargo ships covered under SOLAS Chapter I. It was drafted at the IMO with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) taking a leading role to uphold UK interests. The UK will ultimately use the high-level principles to bring forward national legislation in close consultation with the maritime sector. Continue reading “Landmark support for shipping innovation with publication of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code”

Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026

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Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026 has been published and is available to download
Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026 has been published and is available to download

The Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026 has been published and is available to download now. It highlights geopolitical conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a major factor that shaped shipping risk and activity.

According to Allianz, incidents like the closure and reported mining of the Strait of Hormuz signal a transition toward a “new maritime order” defined by escalating security risks along strategic shipping corridors, the disruption of established trade routes, persistent uncertainty, higher risk premiums, and a greater strategic emphasis on resilience over pure cost efficiency. Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026”

Misdeclared cargo remains a persistent threat to shipping and supply chains

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Misdeclared cargo remains a persistent threat to shipping and supply chains
Misdeclared cargo remains a persistent threat to shipping and supply chains

New statistics released by Allianz show a container ship fire occurs every 17 days, underscoring the persistent risk misdeclared cargo and undeclared dangerous goods pose to seafarers, shipping and global supply chains. Allianz Safety & Shipping Review 2026 says misdeclared cargo is still a major contributor to container ship fires.

“Misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods are a known and preventable threat to seafarers, ships, cargo Continue reading “Misdeclared cargo remains a persistent threat to shipping and supply chains”

Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores, crews and marine surveyors

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Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores, crews and marine surveyors
Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores, crews and marine surveyors

On 2nd May 2019, a twistlock fitted to one of the bottom corner fittings of a container fell out of the fitting while the container was being restowed aboard the container vessel MOL Bravo, in the port of Manzanillo, Mexico. The twistlock landed on the second officer who was on deck, struck his safety helmet and caused fatal injuries.

The investigation report by the Marine Department of Hong Kong noted the following: Continue reading “Safety helmets: When standards fail stevedores, crews and marine surveyors”

Post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

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Post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment
Post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

Fire incidents on ships rank among the most frequent accidents, and in recent years, fire incidents have specially increased among container and ro-ro cargo/ passenger ships. DNV has supported many cases of post-fire structural and material assessments, and this news aims to share our insights from this work.

Need to know

Fire exposure can degrade steel strength and toughness, increasing the risk of brittle behaviour or loss of strength. Continue reading “Post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment”

Fire dampers: A critical detention risk in fire safety

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Fire dampers: A critical detention risk in fire safety
Fire dampers: A critical detention risk in fire safety

Fire safety has consistently remained one of the highest detention areas during Port State Control (PSC) inspections. Within this category, fire dampers frequently appear among the most cited deficiencies.

PSC reports worldwide indicate that fire dampers often fail inspections because they do not close properly, are heavily corroded, or their operating mechanisms are inoperative. In some cases, dampers may pass an operational test but fail during visual inspection, revealing hidden deterioration such as corrosion, wastage, or damaged sealing arrangements.

Under PSC regulations, the deficiency category “Fire Safety” may be classified not only as a detainable deficiency but also as an ISM-related deficiency, indicating potential shortcomings in the vessel’s Safety Management System. Continue reading “Fire dampers: A critical detention risk in fire safety”

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