Lessons from accidentsYoung engineer died after a fire system released gas in a trawler engine room: UK company finedA 20-year-old apprentice engineer died in 2019 when a fire suppression system went off in a small trawler engine room in Newlyn, England. On 15 October 2026 the owner was fined £100,000. Investigators found no safe system of work and no emergency plan.
Rescues and medevacsTwo injured seafarers taken off a bulk carrier near Richards Bay, South Africa, in rough seasOn 19 October 2026, a sea rescue crew from NSRI took two injured seafarers off a 292-metre bulk carrier near Richards Bay, South Africa. The swell grew to 7 metres during the operation. Both men were stable.
Jobs and wagesPhilippines wants 150,000 more Filipino seafarers working on ships around the world by 2030The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers wants Filipinos to make up 35% of the world's seafarers by 2030, up from 28% now. It sees new jobs on ships with new fuels and more digital systems.
Rescues and medevacsCrew member with a severe head injury taken off a work ship on the River ThamesOn 20 October 2026, a crew member fell from height inside a work ship at London Gateway on the River Thames. The RNLI lifeboat crew and the ship's crew moved the injured person from the generator room to a tug, and then to an ambulance.
Recruitment scamsIndonesia: police name nine trafficking suspects after squid boat crew were recruited on Facebook with false pay promisesPolice in Jakarta named nine suspects in a human trafficking case on the squid boat KM Maulana 23. Police said crew were recruited on Facebook and promised Rp4 million a month, but were paid Rp35,000 a day. Their contracts were forged.
Certificates and trainingIndonesia and Portugal sign agreement to recognise each other's fishing crew certificatesIndonesia signed an agreement with Portugal in Jakarta on 20 October 2026 to recognise fishing crew certificates. Portugal says it will let Indonesian fishers work legally on Portuguese fishing boats. The two countries still have to agree on technical details.
Security and piracyNATO sends more patrol aircraft, radars and drones to the Black Sea after attacks on merchant shipsNATO said on 20 October 2026 that allies will send more patrol aircraft, radars, drones and investigators to the Black Sea. This follows a series of drone attacks on merchant ships off Romania and Bulgaria. NATO has not announced escorts for merchant ships.
Visas and crew changesAustralia: from 1 November, the paper Maritime Crew visa form needs written permissionFrom 1 November 2026, crew who cannot apply online for Australia's Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) may use the paper form only with written permission from the Department of Home Affairs. Online applications stay the same.
Welfare and rightsPhilippines signs agreement with the Mission to Seafarers for more welfare and mental health supportThe Philippine Department of Migrant Workers and the charity The Mission to Seafarers signed an agreement on 19 October 2026. They will pass cases to each other and work together on welfare and mental health help for seafarers and their families.
Certificates and trainingShips that run on methanol: a new report says crews need more than the required trainingA report on the first methanol-fuelled ships found the fuel can be used safely. But crews needed extra, ship-specific training, and the riskiest moments were maintenance, entry into methanol spaces and system changes.
Lessons from accidentsMotor falls 6 metres from an engine-room crane on a bulk carrier: lessons from the Australian reportA 25 kg motor fell from the engine-room crane of the bulk carrier RTM Weipa and hit a crew member. Australia's safety bureau found loose hidden bolts, a defect that was never reported, and no safe platform for crane maintenance.
Singapore fines two tanker crew members for flying drones at anchor near Changi AirportTwo tanker crew members were fined S$5,000 and S$3,000 for flying drones without a permit at anchorages close to Changi Airport. Singapore's port authority has now warned all seafarers that this can bring a large fine or jail.