With the global sulphur content of bunker fuel under MARPOL Annex VI1 capped at 0.50% m/m, it is important for ships to understand the different types of bunker fuel sampling … Continue reading BUNKER SAMPLING AND THE SULPHUR CAP

From 1 January 2026, a prohibition on the use or storage of fire extinguishing media containing Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) will take effect. Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2, and the … Continue reading SOLAS: PERFLUOROOCTANE SULFONIC ACID (PFOS) UPDATE

The annual joint Port State Control (PSC) Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) by the Tokyo and Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) members will run from 1 September 2025 until 30 November … Continue reading PSC CONCENTRATED INSPECTION CAMPAIGN ON BALLAST WATER RUNS 1 SEPTEMBER – 30 NOVEMBER 2025

It was announced at the most recent Ministerial Meeting of the OSPAR Commission that the contracting countries will ban the discharges of waste from both open and closed loop EGCS, … Continue reading OSPAR COMMISSION TO BAN SCRUBBER WASH WATER DISCHARGES FROM EXHAUST GAS CLEANING SYSTEMS (EGCS)

As the shipping industry transitions to low- and zero-carbon fuels, the operational and environmental challenges associated with these alternatives are becoming more apparent. To better understand the spill response considerations … Continue reading NAVIGATING ALTERNATIVE FUEL OPTIONS – INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW LE MASURIER, ITOPF SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISER

The regulation of fuel emissions is gathering pace and becoming more stringent. With the first full year of shipping’s inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) now completed, and … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF SHIPPING’S EVOLVING EMISSIONS REGULATIONS

Download Japanese translation here. The Alternative Fuels Watch report by Britannia P&I provides an update on alternative fuels in the maritime industry, such as biofuels, LNG, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. … Continue reading ALTERNATIVE FUELS UPDATE – APRIL 2025

The IMO recently hosted the 83rd session of the MEPC between 7 and 11 April 2025. A major focus of this session was on obtaining an agreement on further implementation … Continue reading INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) – MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC) UPDATE

Download Japanese translation here. The global low sulphur requirements of 0.50% by mass (m/m) came into force on 1 January 2020 under the MARPOL convention. However, some areas/regions have implemented … Continue reading LOW SULPHUR REGULATIONS: EMISSION CONTROLLED AREAS (ECAs)

Download Japanese translation here. Hull fouling refers to a condition when marine organisms such as barnacles, algae, and mussels attach themselves to a ship’s underwater hull surface area. When operating … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION GUIDANCE: UNDERSTANDING HULL FOULING

See also the first part of this white paper, Severe Weather and its Impact on Shipping Risks. OUR PARTNER FOR THE ISSUE Triglav Maritime provides bespoke, comprehensive consultancy services focusing … Continue reading CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT OF DROUGHTS AND FLOODING ON SHIPPING RISKS

A breach of containment of hydraulic hoses or pipes onboard a ship in a port can result in personal injury, disruption to operations and environmental pollution incidents. UNDERSTANDING THE RISK … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION GUIDANCE: HYDRAULIC HOSE AND PIPE FAILURE IN PORT

See also the second part of this white paper, Impact of Droughts and Flooding on Shipping Risks. OUR PARTNER FOR THE ISSUE Triglav Maritime provides bespoke, comprehensive consultancy services focusing … Continue reading CLIMATE CHANGE: SEVERE WEATHER AND ITS IMPACT ON SHIPPING RISKS

Record keeping is a vital part of complying with the ‘International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004’ (BWM Convention), and an area that … Continue reading BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT – NEW STANDARDS FOR BALLAST WATER RECORD BOOK (BWRB) INTRODUCED IN 2025

Starting 1 January 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will broaden the scope of its at-berth emissions control requirements1 for ocean-going vessels. From this date, emissions control compliance will … Continue reading LOSS PREVENTION UPDATE: EXPANSION OF AT BERTH REQUIREMENTS IN CALIFORNIA

Download Simplified Chinese translation here and Traditional Chinese translation here. We have launched a Maritime Emissions Regulations section which includes comprehensive guidance documents covering FuelEU, EU ETS, CII and EEXI, … Continue reading FuelEU MARITIME REGULATIONS – USING LOW-CARBON FUEL TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The Alternative Fuels Watch report by Britannia P&I provides an update on alternative fuels in the maritime industry, such as biofuels, LNG, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. This publication is valuable … Continue reading ALTERNATIVE FUELS UPDATE

FuelEU Maritime Regulation – Regional regulation with global implications From 1 January 2025, cargo and passenger ships over 5,000 gross GT must comply with a cap on the allowable Greenhouse … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: FuelEU MARITIME REGULATION

The BMSB is native to East Asia, specifically found in China, Japan, and South Korea; it has aggressively invaded the US and Europe and is considered an invasive species by … Continue reading BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG (BMSB) SEASONAL MEASURES – 2025-2026

Loss prevention insight on alternative fuels, focusing on ammonia.

Loss prevention insight on alternative fuels, focusing on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

With decarbonisation and the green transition topping the shipping agenda, shipowners are exploring greener alternative fuels to meet their future emission targets. The industry is conducting intensive research and testing … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: ALTERNATIVE FUELS – AN INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

Loss prevention insight on alternative fuels, specifically methanol and hydrogen

Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC) – formerly Asian Gypsy Moth – update for the 2025 season. The Lymantria Dispar, also known as the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), formerly known … Continue reading FLIGHTED SPONGY MOTH COMPLEX (FSMC) – FORMERLY ASIAN GYPSY MOTH SEASON 2025

Loss prevention insight on biofuels, specifically highlighting Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)

The Britannia Loss Prevention team hosted its latest webinar, EU ETS – A New Era in Shipping. The webinar was hosted by Jacob Damgaard, Divisional Director and Head of Loss … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: EU ETS – A NEW ERA IN SHIPPING

The maritime industry is undergoing a profound transformation as it seeks to reduce its environmental footprint and transition towards more sustainable practices. One innovation that has received attention is wind-assisted … Continue reading WIND-ASSISTED PROPULSION

Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster happened in 2011, the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) has monitored by sample surveys the ballast water of vessels at Korean ports … Continue reading GUIDANCE ON MEASURES TO PREVENT INFLOW OF POSSIBLE RADIOACTIVE BALLAST WATER

The Club has seen several pollution incidents involving the accidental transfer of cargo into an adjacent ballast water tank. The main causes are pitting or corrosion of cargo tanks which … Continue reading BALLAST OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICE: BALLAST TANK INSPECTION

The Club has seen an increase in the number of incidents relating to water ingress into holds, the consequences of which can prove costly and cause delays to vessels’ schedules. … Continue reading FLOODING OF CARGO HOLDS – WATER INGRESS FROM CARGO LINES, BILGE LINES AND FROM BALLAST TANKS

On 18 December 2022 the European Parliament and Council came to an agreement on the revision of the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) extending this to also include shipping … Continue reading PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE SHIPPING IN THE EU’S EMISSION TRADING SYSTEM FROM 2024

The decarbonisation of shipping is probably the biggest challenge the industry has ever faced. Many alternative fuels are being developed and are starting to be tested and used. While the … Continue reading AMMONIA AS A FUEL

In recent years decarbonisation has become one of the most common words in the shipping news media. The United Nations’ Paris agreement on climate change in 2015 made a commitment … Continue reading DECARBONISATION: PROGRESS SO FAR AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

In recent years, terms like sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) have become very common, not just within the shipping industry but globally. However, what do these words mean … Continue reading IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

The Britannia Loss Prevention department hosted its latest webinar, Emergency Response Following a Marine Casualty, at 0900 BST on Wednesday 25 May 2022. The webinar was hosted by Captain Simon … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOLLOWING A MARINE CASUALTY

The Club recently saw an incident where a number of unfortunate events, including the fall of the vessel’s spare main engine cylinder liner, led to an oil spill. Although the … Continue reading OIL SPILL ON DECK

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA, Jacob Damgaard, Associate Director, Loss Prevention, Britannia P&I, highlights that the maritime industry will only move forward with close cooperation between industry stakeholders. The … Continue reading SAFETY4SEA INTERVIEW WITH BRITANNIA’S JACOB DAMGAARD

Members are reminded that new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) legislation under MARPOL Annex VI is due to become applicable in just one year, with the new regulations requiring various measures … Continue reading ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXISTING SHIP INDEX (EEXI) – NEW LEGISLATION

Work by the IMO on the prevention of air pollution from ships led to the adoption of the Protocol of 1997 to the MARPOL Convention.  The Protocol added a new … Continue reading EMISSIONS

The MARPOL convention allows for the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems[1] (EGCS, more commonly referred to as scrubbers) as an alternative means of complying with the 2020 low sulphur … Continue reading LIST OF JURISDICTIONS RESTRICTING OR BANNING SCRUBBER WASH WATER DISCHARGES FROM EXHAUST GAS CLEANING SYSTEMS (EGCS)

The introduction of invasive species into a new eco-system can have serious consequences and it is well documented that invasive species can flourish in a new environment. The invasive species … Continue reading BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT (BWM) INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE BWM CONVENTION

There has been a recent case of a Member finding a significant number of cockroaches on board a modular container ship which required all the cargo to be discharged and … Continue reading AVOID COCKROACHES