Ship Managers with vessels covered under the 2013 VGP are required to submit the annual report by February 29th 2024 (for activities conducted from January 1st 2023 until December 31st 2023).

From a cadet to Chief Engineer, Dmitriy Agafonov has accumulated a wealth of knowledge during his tenure at sea. He shares his experiences, underlining the belief that one's salary should not be the primary motivation for choosing a maritime career

The Coast Guard has released policies to provide guidance on implementation of several of the new laws that aim to enhance crew safety on certain commercial vessels and to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault and sexual harassment, and harassment within the maritime industry.

Captain Anastasios Mavrogenis underscores the pivotal role of a Master in fostering team cohesion, building trust, and inspiring confidence among crew members. Despite challenges, Masters are urged to cultivate a robust culture by encouraging open communication, providing seamanship education, sharing knowledge, and offering support—setting a leadership example.

Capt Thilanka emphasizes on enhancing connectivity with families and friends ashore. Moreover, with reliable connection, seafarers can gain access to valuable information via the internet. This enables them to utilize their free time for self-improvement and skill development, he highlights.

The maritime industry, a cornerstone of global trade and commerce, is currently navigating a dynamic regulatory landscape that shapes its present and future. As we look ahead, several key items dominate the regulatory agenda for the maritime sector.

Safety of Navigation is an area that includes 36 Deficiency Codes identified by the number 10###. Over the last 5 years, Safety of Navigation has consistently ranked among the top five PSC Deficiency Areas, showing increasing trends in almost all regions.

EMSA published an analysis of all incidents reported to the European Marine Casualty Information Platform – (EMCIP) during the last decade (17/06/2011-31/12/2021) to detect potential safety issues, revealing that more than 10,000 ships have been involved in navigational incidents related to grounding, collision, and contact.

Navigating the vast expanses of the world's oceans is not merely a logistical task but a sophisticated science that underpins the global shipping industry. At the heart of this intricate process lies the concept of navigation, encompassing the art and practice of guiding ships, aircraft, and spacecraft safely from one point to another.

This time of the year gives us a great opportunity to set targets and prepare action plan for the next 365 days ahead. As we are getting ready to welcome 2024, we remain optimistic that despite the challenges, maritime industry will keep strong and ready to adapt to new trends.