safety – Professional Mariner

22 Jul

Switlik Survival Products names Sarah Switlik as president

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newssafety, Search and rescue

(TRENTON, N.J.) — Switlik Survival Products, a global leader in survival solutions for over 100 years, has announced the promotion of Sarah Switlik to president. Formerly serving as chief operating officer for five years, Switlik will now lead a team of 170 employees and assume full responsibility for day-to-day operations, a role she has been gradually stepping into over the…

21 Jul

Citing fire risk, Matson stops shipping EVs to Hawaii

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newssafety, shipping

(HONOLULU) — Hawaii’s largest shipping company told customers last week that it won’t ship electric vehicles to the state anymore, Hawaii Public Radio reported. Matson says it’s because of the fire risk of shipping lithium-ion batteries. Matson told customers in a letter that it will stop transporting not only electric vehicles to Hawaii but also plug-in hybrids because of the…

14 Jul

CSA recognizes 57 Crowley vessels for safety

Rich MillerIndustry Newssafety, shipping

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has recognized 57 Crowley-owned or -managed vessels with its Jones F. Devlin Safety Award, honoring the achievements and hard work of crews that together completed a total of 478 years without a lost time injury. The Jones F. Devlin Safety Award honors the exceptional commitment of people and companies responsible…

06 Jul

ABS develops advanced modeling for EV battery fires

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newssafety, shipping

(HOUSTON) — The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has developed advanced simulation modeling of thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery fires, in a critical step forward in tackling one of maritime’s biggest emergent safety risks. The model, which has now been validated with Texas A&M University research, replicates the thermal runaway profile at the battery cell level, unlocking detailed insight into…

03 Jul

Cruise industry urged to act on MOBs after Disney rescue

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newssafety, Search and rescue

(EDINBURGH, Scotland) — The recent fall of a young girl from the fourth deck of the Disney Dream cruise ship has renewed pressure on the cruise industry to adopt life-saving man-overboard (MOB) detection technology that experts say is now both available and proven. The girl, who survived the June 29 incident, was spotted and quickly saved thanks to the quick…

30 Jun

SOLAS amended to improve pilot transfer safety

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots, safety

(LONDON) — Maritime pilots around the world make a critical contribution to the safety of navigation, the prevention of waterborne pollution and the efficiency of maritime trade. Delivering this public benefit is now made safer by the adoption of amendments to SOLAS and a new mandatory performance standard for pilot transfer arrangements. “Maritime pilots deliver an extremely effective public service,"…

16 Jun

MarAd alert: Potential threat to shipping near Iran

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsMarAd, Maritime alerts, safety, Security, shipping

Threat type: Potential retaliatory strikes by Iranian forces Geographic area: Strait of Hormuz, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea (WASHINGTON) — At approximately 0100 UTC on June 13, Israel commenced military strikes against targets in Iran. Due to the now heightened tensions in this region, U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating throughout this region are strongly encouraged to maintain close…

16 Jun

Wiernicki receives Silver Bell Award for service and safety

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry Newssafety, shipping

(NEW YORK) — Christopher J. Wiernicki, chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), received the 2025 Silver Bell Award on Thursday for lifelong service and outstanding leadership in the maritime industry. The award is presented by the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), SCI is a nearly 200-year-old charity headquartered in New York that serves and protects the personal…

03 Jun

DNV: Aging fleet drives surge in casualty incidents

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, safety, shipping

(HOVIK, Norway) — According to DNV’s latest report, "Maritime Safety Trends 2014-2024 – Preparing for Future Risks," the number of maritime safety incidents increased by 42 percent between 2018 and 2024, while during the same period the global fleet grew by just 10 percent. Driven mainly by an aging fleet and machine damage/failure, the findings highlight the risks connected with…

30 May

PORTS sensors to boost safety for Honolulu mariners

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsNavigation, safety, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — The Physical Oceanographic Real-time System, or PORTS, is now operational at Pearl Harbor-Honolulu, Hawaii. Installed by the National Ocean Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), data from the new publicly available observation system advances NOAA’s ability to better serve Hawaii’s coastal communities and secure maritime safety in the Pacific islands. Pearl Harbor-Honolulu PORTS is…