It was the 40th anniversary of the Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR), as the Douglas-based registry marked the event in London.
The celebrations were attended by a host of key figures across the maritime industry, that took place at the historic Trinity House, Afloat highlights is the central headquarters of the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA). This is one of three GLA's that represent Ireland and the UK. The venue was used as a way to thank the IOMSR’s clients and partners and present its vision for the future.
IOMSR director Cameron Mitchell said of the event, which took place on September 12 and was sponsored by Cains, MHG Insurance and Appleby: ”This year represents a significant milestone for the registry. As we look back on 40 years of success, we were keen to express our sincere gratitude to our dedicated team, valued clients and the wider maritime community. They have all played an instrumental role in our remarkable journey and their trust, loyalty and collaboration have been key to our achievements.
"Since our inception in 1984, the IOMSR has grown into one of the world’s leading maritime registries, consistently recognised for our
high standards of safety, innovation and commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Mr Mitchell went on to explain how vital it is that the registry continues to lead by example as a Category 1 member of the Red Ensign
Group, representing more than a third of tonnage under the Red Ensign and being synonymous with the highest standards of safety, engineering and navigation in the global maritime industry.
He added: "Over the past four decades, the IOMSR has evolved to meet the changing needs of the global shipping industry. Today, we are known for offering unparalleled service, a reputation for regulatory excellence and a proactive approach to the latest maritime challenges. They crucially include seafarers' welfare, decarbonisation and digitalisation, which are all key pillars of future industry growth.
“First and foremost, we need to care for our seafarer’s mental health, safety and well-being by implementing robust EDI frameworks. We are also proud to have launched our seafarer welfare app, which ensures seafarer and vessel safety.
“Additionally, successfully meeting IMO 2050 GHG targets will require greater data transparency and collaboration across maritime. Flag states are required to take positive actions, such as by having the forethought to offer reduced registration fees for those ships deploying green technology and using alternative fuels.”
Guests on the night included senior figures from organisations including Maritime UK, WISTA UK, the Isle of Man's Department for Enterprise, the Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, Nautilus International and BP.
The IOMSR is one of the world’s leading flag states and is ranked 18 in the world by Clarkson’s with 313 ships and around 12M GT under its flag. The registry has held top spot on the Paris MoU Port State Control and is on the whitelist in the Tokyo MoU rankings. The registry is headquartered in Douglas, Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown dependency.
