News Bulletins

View the July news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin July 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

Have you ever wondered why incidents seem to come in clusters and often by type? I have. It is a strange phenomenon and one that I have no idea how to explain. Recently there were several enclosed space accidents hitting the news in quick succession with deaths to report. Then there was a spate of incidents within days of each other involving containers flying from ships into the seas. In some cases, it was just a handful, but in others, much larger numbers were reported. And now, there has been a cluster of devastating fires, both at sea and on shore that have hit the headlines in recent weeks resulting in multiple deaths. Those who know me well know I find maritime-related tragedies on an industrial scale both shocking and hard to understand at times. As ever, my sympathies lie with the families of those who have lost loved ones.

On a lighter note, I am delighted to welcome South Korean based Peter Broad FIIMS as your new President. He formally took up his post during the AGM on 7th June following the changing of the guard as Geoff Waddington came to the end of his two-year term. You can read more about the AGM and see some photos elsewhere in the bulletin.

View the June news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin June 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

It is that time of the year when my mind concentrates fully on the Annual General Meeting, being held on Tuesday 7th June. At this event we will be formally saying goodbye to current President, Geoff Waddington, and welcoming Peter Broad for his two-year term. The most challenging backdrop imaginable called Covid has not overshadowed Geoff’s presidency, nor has he let it. He has done a great job and has even dubbed himself the ‘President of Zoom’ due to his inability to appear at face-to-face events. My Chief Executive Officer’s report is available and can be read on the AGM page on the website and reports from Directors and others will appear there in the coming days.

The Report Magazine has officially turned 100 today with the publication of the hundredth edition, June 2022. This is a significant milestone in the history of the title and one I am proud to be associated with. I am delighted at how the publication has developed since I have been editor. I am grateful to all those who have contributed willingly over the years which has helped to make the magazine what it is today. Follow the link and choose to read the Report Magazine in either pdf or eReader format.

View the May news bulletin in full: IIMS News Bulletin May 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

Two of our own have hit the news headlines over the past month. I call Albert Weatherill ‘one of our own’, for he is one of the longest-standing IIMS members. These days he is Managing Director of Van Ameyde McAuslands. A couple of weeks ago Albert wrote an article that was instantly picked up by the shipping and boating press. He rightly argues that seized maritime assets could pose a “significant risk” to ports, harbours and marinas if there is no requirement to ensure mega yachts detained under sanction rules are not properly maintained, made safe, or deactivated and exposes the safety concerns. One wonders why no-one had thought to question what would happen when over 100 mega yachts are effectively impounded, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

The Institute’s 2022 Annual General Meeting is fast approaching. The online meeting will be broadcast live from Murrills House, Portchester at 14.00 on Tuesday 7th June. The meeting will be recorded and made available on the IIMS YouTube channel for viewing at a later date for those who are interested but cannot make the date.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS News Bulletin April 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

Rarely am I lost for words, but I have found this month’s news bulletin introduction harder to compose than usual. You know full well why this is of course. My colleagues and I have been appalled at the situation developing in Ukraine, along with many other people around the world. The invasion has dominated the marine headlines, as well as the general news, for several weeks now – and rightly so, for it is the only news in town that matters currently.

On a different but related note, I have read some concerning articles about the likely impact on the superyacht sector, which experts are predicting is in for a gloomy period. Before war broke out the superyacht sector was a vibrant and hugely successful industry employing an estimated 250,000 in Europe alone. With economic sanctions now starting to bite, this is a trying time for those companies for whom superyacht new build and refit is their source of income.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS News Bulletin March 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

The shipping and boating business is constantly evolving to meet new challenges and rarely sleeps for long, but changes happen quicker in some areas than others, yet sometimes not fast enough it appears. If you are wondering what I am going on about, you will read in this bulletin about the looming crisis facing the offshore wind sector.

The March Report Magazine – edition 99 – is published and available to read today in both pdf and/or eReader format. It is another edition packed with thought provoking features and articles that offer the reader not only a diverse mix of informative reading material, but some practical information and advice too.

I am pleased to welcome Rosie Webb to the IIMS head office team as Office & Web Administrator. You can read more about her in this bulletin. If you are reading this and are based in Australia, I should draw your attention to the public consultation of Australia’s Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety legislation which is now open.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS News Bulletin February 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

2022 has kicked off in busy fashion for IIMS on several fronts and there are a number of ongoing projects during January that have kept my colleagues and I with our heads down at our desks!

There has been a rush of new membership applications in recent weeks, so if you have recently joined and are reading this bulletin for the first time, welcome to the organisation. Perhaps the biggest project for some time to report on is the rollout of the new IIMS student education portal for those enrolled and studying the distance learning Professional Qualifications. More than twelve months in the making with our software partner, eDot Solutions in Goa, we finally went live on 10 January.

The reaction I received following the publication of the 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium has been astonishing. Although the importance of the compendium was apparent to me when compiling it, I had not anticipated the extraordinary feedback. If you have yet to download your free 100-page copy of the compendium in pdf format, you can do so now.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS News Bulletin January 2022 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

A number of members have asked when face-to-face Institute events and meetings can begin again. In truth, I have no idea and at this time do not expect to be travelling internationally in 2022. We have provisional plans to hold the AGM in June in the grounds of IIMS Head Office, Murrills House, but for now there remains a question mark over that.

Since I took up my role with IIMS, I have never managed to fully get to grips with the sheer number of accidents that happen at sea. It shocked and horrified me then and still does. I read something recently from Standard Club that said they process 7,500 claims per annum – and that is just one organisation. Multiply that up and the number of annual claims must surely run into tens of thousands. For me this is unacceptable and more must be done. It is with this in mind that I decided to publish the first edition of the IIMS 2021 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium. It runs to 100 pages and the sole aim is to bring together as many of last year’s incident/accident reports and loss prevention guidance as possible into one easy-to-use electronic magazine format. There is content relevant to marine surveyors of all disciplines, and I believe this publication is an essential addition to your online resource library. I would encourage you to share it with your professional network.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS News Bulletin December 2021 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

Let me start with a heart-warming story in these still challenging times. IIMS launched the John Excell Award for Outstanding Achievement earlier this year following John’s untimely passing. I am delighted to inform you that the first two recipients of the award have been announced. And in Christopher Keenan and Matthew Willis, we have found two exceptionally gifted students. Elsewhere in this bulletin, you can read more about them and their citations.

For the first time, IIMS has put together a year-end Big Quiz. A bit of fun, there are 75 multiple-choice questions that will test your general marine knowledge. The top-scoring IIMS member will have his or her fees refunded as the first prize, but non-members are welcome to take the quiz. The questions can be accessed and answered online.

I would like to mention the new Shipbuilding Acquaint Course that Peter Broad (Deputy President) has been working on for some time.

Let’s hope 2022 gets us firmly back on track to some kind of normality. If you celebrate Christmas, then I wish you a happy one with family, friends and good cheer. But no matter if you do, or do not, may I wish you prosperity and good fortune for the New Year.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: IIMS November 2021 News Bulletin (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

I am always happy to champion good and worthy causes, especially those that fit within the current environmental landscape that we are being so challenged by. So, I am grateful to Peter Franklin of YachtMedia for alerting me to the excellent work that has been undertaken by Brighton University about the global problems associated with the thorny subject of end-of-life boats. It seems the boating world continues to turn a blind eye, which is no longer acceptable. The situation is deteriorating, or at best making only improving marginally, in what is now becoming a major environmental catastrophe requiring serious attention.

The past few weeks have been eventful with some lengthy and important meetings. An annual audit visit from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency – these days online – is never a fun event to look forward to. Their aim? To dig deep to ensure that IIMS is operating its Certifying Authority in a professional manner and in keeping with our procedures manual and the contract by which we are governed. Fortunately, they seemed happy and there were no nasty surprises for either side and, importantly, no red flags! The following day saw a Certifying Authority committee meeting. This was rapidly followed by an Education Committee meeting. It is pleasing to report one of our largest student intakes to study for the marine surveying Professional Qualifications at the start of last month.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: News Bulletin October 2021 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

At the start of last month, I had the pleasure to stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from four other well-known UK-based professional maritime organisations onboard HQS Wellington in London. The reason? We were onboard to launch The Maritime Professional Council of the UK (MPC). The event attracted over forty VIP guests, including three members of the House of Lords. Launching a new lobbying group is a bold initiative. Our collective desire to want to assist the lawmakers to make better maritime regulations, based on knowledge and experience, is a genuine one.

And on the subject of collaboration with other organisations, I’d like to mention our support for the Norman Finlay Memorial Development Scheme, which is designed to increase the amount of small commercial vessel seafarers and those with a passion for these types of craft moving into advanced careers ashore within the sector.

President, Geoff Waddington, has written a hard-hitting article entitled ‘Beware the challenges of surveying steel hull inland waterways craft – and other considerations’. If this is the type of surveying you are engaged in, I would urge you to read Geoff’s article and to take note.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: News Bulletin September 2021 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

In the past few weeks, several members have commented to me that in their opinion IIMS has become expert at developing and delivering quality training that meets the needs of the marine surveying profession. I am grateful to them for their unsolicited comments and am happy for my colleagues and I to accept the plaudits. I know just how much time and effort we (and those who assist in developing the course and seminar material alongside us) put into perfecting our training offerings. However, I rather hope IIMS is recognised as more than just a training organisation, although I cannot deny we have more exciting training opportunities up our sleeve.

I received an email recently from IIMS member, James Newcombe, one of very few experienced and recognised yacht and small craft surveyors practicing in New Zealand currently. He made two interesting observations and I am sure he will not object if I quote him verbatim. James said, “I joined the IIMS not just for back-up support, or a community to belong to, but also, more importantly, to increase my knowledge.” I hope we deliver all of that and more for members and yes, that takes us full circle back to training and surveying knowledge resources.

I recommend the September Report Magazine, another bumper edition, which has just been published.

View the news bulletin in full to continue reading: News Bulletin August 2021 (pdf format) or click to read it in eReader format.

Covid-19 regulations in the UK have changed recently as the government seeks to unlock further. Will it make a big difference for marine surveyors in the UK? Possibly. And just when we thought we were heading into calmer pandemic waters, two of my colleagues came into contact with people who have tested positive and had to self-isolate. I labour the point about Covid only to highlight that it remains a hazard to us all, not just in the UK.

The IIMS team is now back working full time from Murrills House. Fortunately, before my colleagues had to self-isolate, we managed a highly successful overnight team building event, which brought us altogether face-to-face as a group for the first time in over 18 months. I have included a few photos in this news bulletin to give you a flavour of what the team got up to.

Another story that broke in the last month that caught my attention was indirectly related to the pandemic. The US Coast Guard has published its 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report and the findings show a rather depressing surge in fatalities during the pandemic. Click to read the full story and the report. In 2020, the report reveals there were 767 boating fatalities nationwide, an increase of 25%. These are troubling statistics and can only be explained by the fact that so many more people have taken to the water in the last 18 months – many of them, I suspect, first-time boaters.