London P&I Club - Experts & Thought Leaders

To mark World Mental Health Day, The London P&I Club has funded one full day of Stella Maris’ UK operations, supporting the charity’s work in providing practical, spiritual, and emotional support to thousands of seafarers every year who are struggling with stress, loneliness, exhaustion, bullying or exploitation. The Club’s contribution covers the costs of the charity’s ship visits, welfare support and pastoral care for a 24-hour period, ensuring thousands of seafarers receive direct, personal support from Stella Maris chaplains and volunteers. Seafarer welfare Stella Maris’ network of more than 1000 volunteers and chaplains conduct more than 70,000 ship visits per year Seafarers often work under difficult conditions, with long periods away from family and limited access to shore leave or communication. These pressures, combined with demanding operational schedules, can have a significant impact on wellbeing and leave crew members struggling in silence. Stella Maris, which operates in more than 350 ports across 57 countries, provides a vital human connection - visiting ships to check on crews, offering a listening ear, and providing practical help, such as transport, access to communication, or support in cases of abandonment or unpaid wages. Stella Maris’ network of more than 1000 volunteers and chaplains conduct more than 70,000 ship visits per year. Wellbeing and safety This year’s United Nations (UN) World Mental Health Day theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” is particularly relevant to the experiences of seafarers. Life at sea can bring long periods of isolation, high-pressure situations, and limited access to support - challenges that are magnified during times of crisis. For The London P&I Club, the partnership with Stella Maris reflects a broader recognition that mental well-being and safety are inseparable. Supporting Stella Maris James Bean, Chief Executive of The London P&I Club, said of the initiative: “Supporting Stella Maris on World Mental Health Day reinforces our shared belief that crew wellbeing is fundamental to safe and effective operations. Seafarers face unique pressures, and it’s vital they know there is someone to turn to both at sea and in port.” He adds, “Stella Maris plays an important role in providing trusted, on-the-ground support that complements the work of shipowners, managers and insurers. Funding a day of their work is a meaningful way to recognise the importance of seafarer welfare on World Mental Health Day.” Tim Hill, CEO of Stella Maris, said: “Seafarers’ mental health affects every aspect of maritime life – safety, relationships, and performance. Our chaplains are often the first people a seafarer will turn to when they’re struggling. The London P&I Club’s support ensures that, on World Mental Health Day, every visit and every conversation that takes place around the world is made possible. That continuity of presence is what keeps many seafarers going.”

The London P&I Club has renewed calls on ship owners, operators and charterers to address potential risks when loading Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs) containing dry chemicals. The warning follows a number of incidents reported across the industry, including hold fires and cargo damage in bulk carriers and general cargo ships. The issue is particularly common with vessels loading in Chinese ports. Incorrect hold and handling of FIBCs The Club warns that failure to strictly comply with all relevant IMO rules and tips governing the storage Claims resulting from the incorrect storage and handling of FIBCs, also known as ‘jumbo bags’, can lead to significant claims, the Club notes. The Club also warns that failure to strictly comply with all relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and guidance governing the storage and handling of jumbo bags could even prejudice P&I cover.   To help industry to understand the risks associated with incorrect handling and stowage of jumbo bags, the Club has developed a detailed video case study of a fictional bulk carrier, MV Calm Sea, which can be used by vessel owners, operators and charterers, crew and port agents as a training resource for identifying risks, liabilities and best practices. Operating bulk carriers and cargo vessels Ian Barr, Chief Claims Officer at The London P&I Club, said: "Given prevailing market conditions, assureds operating bulk carriers and general cargo vessels are receiving frequent requests to load jumbo bags in the same holds as breakbulk and steel cargoes or to store different bagged chemicals in the same hold." He adds, "In cases of different bagged chemicals being stowed together, chemical contamination and reactions can lead to on-board vessel fires, which can result in the total loss of the entire contents of the hold and large claims. Serious problems also occur when FIBCs are stored incorrectly with breakbulk or steel cargoes, which can damage the integrity of the jumbo bags and cause significant spillage leading to delays, fines or claims." Developing stowage plans and loading FIBCs Ian Barr continues: "These cargoes may look harmless, but can be potentially very dangerous if not stowed and handled appropriately. We want to support the wider industry by raising awareness and helping operators globally to mitigate the risk of incidents and claims." He further states, "We strongly urge owners, operators, charterers and Masters to use this resource and to be extra vigilant when developing stowage plans and loading FIBCs and other big bags onboard. They should alert their P&I Club so that assistance can be sought from qualified industry experts before proceeding." Storage of jumbo bags P&I cover may be prejudiced in the case of non-compliance with applicable regulations as adopted by the Flag State in relation to the storage of jumbo bags. This includes the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS) Code and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) Code.

Multi-party collaboration addresses serious threat to safety of navigation and visibility of high-value assets in degraded and compromised Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) environments. Threats to GPS and GNSS signals, such as spoofing, jamming and other interference are reaching unprecedented levels worldwide. Security risks for crews In some regions, maritime authorities have reported a 350% increase in affected vessels over the past six months, according to P&I club NorthStandard. These disruptions are having serious consequences, including collisions, delays, financial impacts on global trade and heightened security risks for crews at sea. Iridium backbone Tschudi Shipping Company has joined forces with US-based APNT specialist - NAL Research To address the urgent need for reliable asset tracking and assured navigation in high-risk GPS/GNSS-compromised environments, Tschudi Shipping Company has joined forces with US-based Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) specialist - NAL Research and shipping/fisheries technology provider - SGM Technology AS to deliver a resilient navigation and tracking solution enabled by Iridium’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network ensuring global coverage. Trials of the state-of-the-art tool, which immediately detects if a vessel is being spoofed, are currently in progress with a selection of top-tier shipowners. Delivering global situational awareness "Protection against GPS vulnerabilities is no longer a nice-to-have, but a necessity to ensure operational success and asset safety," said NAL Research President, Robert Bills.  He adds, "Through this collaborative effort, we are aiming to achieve complete global situational awareness and increase safety at sea for our commercial maritime customers, even in the most remote and challenging situations." Integrity of maritime operations "In today’s maritime landscape, the threat of GPS jamming and spoofing is no longer theoretical – it’s a growing reality. Ensuring navigational safety is critical, not just for protecting cargo and vessels, but for safeguarding the lives of seafarers who rely on precise and trustworthy systems every day," said Steffen Grefsgård, CEO of SGM Technology. He adds, "At SGM Technology, we are committed to developing robust solutions that help mitigate these risks and maintain the integrity of maritime operations." Time for collective action Tschudi Group Chairman, Felix Tschudi, stated, "As a fifth-generation shipping company, we’ve witnessed the evolution of maritime navigation, but never before have we faced technological threats like GPS jamming and spoofing." He adds, "These disruptions pose a serious risk to vessel safety, crew welfare, and the reliability of global trade routes. The industry must act collectively to address these vulnerabilities to protect maritime personnel and assets." Iridium PNT-enabled technologies "We’re proud to support our valued partners to enable this vital service in the critically important maritime markets," said Iridium Vice President of PNT, Rohit Braggs. He adds, "Iridium PNT-enabled technologies are available today and provide trusted location services for high-value assets — and more importantly, help to keep mariners safe." Unique combined experience Under the partnership, the companies are leveraging NAL Research’s 25+ years of expertise in APNT, tracking and connectivity to develop solutions built on the Iridium® PNT service, a powerful and fully authenticated L-band signal resilient to spoofing and jamming. The partnership will also benefit from SGM’s 15+ years of experience delivering technology to the commercial maritime sector and Tschudi’s global presence and 140+ years in commercial shipping and logistics.