News Bulletins

View the November news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin November 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 24 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 27 minutes).

It seems to be report season! In recent weeks I have been bombarded with them, more than seems normal for this time of the year from recollection. Sadly, I cannot make time to read and digest them all. But out of courtesy and duty, knowing how much time, effort and money has gone into resourcing and publishing them, I do scan read the most relevant ones, and occasionally I am rewarded with some essential nuggets of learned wisdom. One such recent report that grabbed my attention was the P&I Market Review 2025. It offers a deep dive into the current status of the various P&I Clubs. But it was the narrative in the accompanying press release that really hit home. It informs readers that the 2024/25 policy year saw the clubs report a collective underwriting loss of $312m, reversing two years of surpluses and resulting in a net underwriting loss of $98m over the past three years.

View the October news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin October 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 24 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 28 minutes).

Wherever I go these days – and I have been around a bit recently – and whoever I meet in the maritime world, be they small craft or commercial ship surveyors, loss prevention executives, insurers and underwriters, and even maritime regulators, it seems there is one subject that comes up time and time again. Can you guess? Ah yes, lithium-ion batteries, and more importantly, the mounting challenges they are presenting in our industry! Perhaps that does not surprise you. Now, please understand, I am not here to stymie innovation or prevent the advance of new technology; clearly, the technology is amazing. However, I am concerned that people are kept safe when surrounded by lithium-ion batteries and, let’s face it, they surround us these days.

View the September news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin September 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 17 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 30 minutes).

Over the past year, IIMS has trained approaching 500 members (and some non-members too) at various locations around the world, both face-to-face and online, in a variety of marine surveying disciplines. That is a remarkable statistic and achievement, and one I am proud of. Training is an integral part of what the Institute does. We are recognised for it and are delighted to take the lead in developing and delivering quality surveyor education and personal development. On top of that there has been strong educational demand in 2025 with over 200 students currently enrolled for the distance learning IIMS Professional Qualifications in Small Craft and Commercial Ship Marine Surveying. So, against this backdrop, I am delighted to formally announce that at the end of July, IIMS launched its On Demand Training Portal.

View the August news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin August 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 21 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 27 minutes).

I am returning to another favourite hobby horse of mine this month – that old nugget of ‘where will the next generation of marine surveyors come from’. It is far from clear to me and others whom I meet. Why am I motivated to bring this to your attention again? I believe that those who have had a successful career as a professional marine surveyor should be encouraged to help develop those who will follow in their footsteps and ensure the future of this noble profession. However, it is not just the marine surveying profession that needs to face up to these significant challenges. Many sectors are now utilising AI technology to replace the human factor, but I remain skeptical that this innovation will replace the role of the hands-on marine surveyor in the short to mid-term.

View the July news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin July 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 17 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 25 minutes).

It is not so often that I find myself being able to share plenty of good and uplifting news exclusively with you. So, whilst disasters at sea continue unabated (sadly, this month has been no exception), for this news bulletin, at least, my focus is firmly elsewhere.

One of the most pleasurable parts of the recent AGM for me was announcing some high-profile awards. Recognising individuals who have contributed something exceptional to the organisation and the maritime sector in general is of key importance. You can read more about those individuals who were honoured, along with some photos, elsewhere in this bulletin.

View the June news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin June 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 24 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 25 minutes).

It may have passed you by, but there seems to have been a string of eye-catching large yacht fires erupting since the start of 2025. So, what is behind this surge in large yacht fires and is it acceptable? Of course not, and it is not yet entirely clear, are the simple answers. Whilst the reason for a boat fire is not always known instantly, lithium-ion batteries are said to have been the cause of one devastating fire in Marseille in January, which kick started this unwelcome run of boat fires. The fire in question spread to two nearby yachts. The second yacht was also a total loss, while the third sustained severe damage to her port side. Oil booms were deployed to mitigate the environmental harm. Who knows what the final cost to insurers will be once the dust settles? But this incident started an alarming trend.

View the May news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin May 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 19 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 27 minutes).

Often, my monthly introduction column to the News Bulletin is driven by the prevailing news at the time of writing and comments reaching my inbox. This month is no exception – only that in the past few weeks, there have been two far reaching topics of conversation that have produced larger than normal reactions and much debate. The first is the UK government’s exceptional call for evidence to decarbonise the UK’s fleet of under 400gt vessels. The second matter – my visit to the IMS Baltimore Conference coincided with the announcement by President Trump of the new global tariffs. I have since been asked by many what impact the tariffs might have on the shipping and boating industry, and specifically on the marine surveying sector. In truth, I simply do not know at this stage any more than you do.

View the April news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin April 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 19 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 23 minutes).

I wanted to start my column this month by posing a question! What on earth is going on in the Red Sea with a succession of dive boat incidents and accidents in recent times? The latest in this saga of unfortunate events happened on 6 February when a dive boat on tow capsized, spilling 6 crew into the water. Thankfully, all were recovered safely. The tour boat Triton had just completed maintenance and was en route to Hurghada when it capsized. Who on earth is inspecting these vessels and passing them as fit? In this day and age, this is unacceptable, and I can but only add my voice to the many others who want answers, not least the families of those who have so needlessly lost loved ones. I call for an urgent review by the local maritime authorities and urge them to raise surveying standards in the Red Sea to prevent future incidents.

View the March news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin March 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 21 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 25 minutes).

If you read my column back in January, you may recall that I questioned the future of indoor boat shows, following the collapse of several important indoor events at that time. Now I have read the 2025 edition of the Dutch indoor show has been cancelled, and future editions of the Gothenburg boat show have been curtailed due to economic conditions. Tough economic conditions seem to be a key reason why three well-known and highly respected British yacht brands have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons recently. I am referring to Princess Yachts, (about 260 jobs were lost in late 2024), Sunseeker (around 100 people temporarily laid off in December) and Fairline (which fell into administration at the end of January just weeks after the business changed ownership and is now awaiting a new buyer). So, what’s going wrong?

View the February news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin February 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 18 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 24 minutes).

Late last year, I read an article that resonated with me and set me on a train of thought because it concerned an issue facing not just the surveying profession, but many other industry sectors too. The headline was ‘GREY HAIR. Too much on the canals?’

What struck me was the correlation with the marine surveying profession. The article highlighted the need for younger people (with less grey hair) to step up and join the ranks. Let me assure you there is nothing wrong with grey hair per se – (I have plenty) – for with it comes knowledge, experience and expertise. But what happens when those grey hairs retire, fade away and disappear?

View the January news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin January 2025 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 24 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 27 minutes).

Let me start my first column of the new year on a slightly downbeat note by posing this question for your consideration: “Are we witnessing the death of indoor boat shows?” A recent announcement confirming the cancellation of the Paris Boat Show scheduled for April 2025 is disappointing, especially as it comes hard on the heels of a similar decision made late last year to cancel Boatlife 2025 in the UK. The Fédération des Industries Nautiques (FIN) – the French federation for the nautical sector – made the announcement that the Nautic-en-Seine boat show will not take place. The federation says the decision was made in light of current market conditions, which FIN believes no longer guarantees the full success of the show’s first edition.

View the December news bulletin in full: News Bulletin December 2024 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader magazine format.

Two ‘lite’ podcast versions are also available to listen to. Yacht & Small Craft Surveyors (run time 22 minutes) and Commercial Ship Surveyors (run time 28 minutes).

If I told you the marine surveying profession is showing small signs of starting to self regulate itself, you could be forgiven for thinking I have taken leave of my senses perhaps. Marine surveying remains essentially an unregulated profession and there seems little global government interest in doing much about it. How can it be right that someone with no practical industry knowledge, limited or no surveying skills, a lack of relevant general experience, can set themselves up as a surveyor and do this work? Yet as we all know they are out there, undercutting professional surveyors to get the job if needs be and providing low-grade surveying. Apart from anything else, this tarnishes the surveying profession and undermines those who have spent years honing their craft and skills.