maritime training | Page 2 of 4 | The Maritime Skills Academy

The MCA has announced new requirements for PSSR: Here’s how the changes will affect you

New changes to the STCW PSSR (Personal Safety and Social Responsibility) course have been introduced in 2026, to include more training and awareness on sexual harassment and assault.

PSSR students in classroom, learning about latest updates

New modules will be added to the course structure to ensure all crew members are educated in the prevention of violence and harassment, including bullying. Although not mandatory, it would be beneficial for all crew to be trained in the updated course structure to ensure conduct on board is to the highest standard.

What will the changes to PSSR mean for passengers?

The intention of introducing further learning to PSSR, to educate crew on violence and harassment, is to improve the social experience on board a vessel, for crew and passengers alike. Crew will be better equipped to handle onboard conflicts, manage relationships and behave appropriately. Promoting respectful, dignified conduct will result in a better passenger experience and improve the reputation of industry workers.

What will the changes to PSSR mean for crew?

For crew members updating their training, there will be little change to the course they took previously, apart from the duration being slightly longer to accommodate the new topics.

Cruise Ship sailing on a clear sunny day

Violence and harassment have always been against policy on board a vessel; however, the new training in PSSR will give crew the skills they need to de-escalate a situation and manage relationships on board.

What will the changes to PSSR mean for training companies?

Any course change requires extensive research and training. Instructors will need to become well-versed in the updated course content so that they can confidently deliver the training to the crew. It is also important for a maritime training centre to contact its clients, ensuring they are well aware of the changes and advising them on how best to proceed.

STCW students in classroom learning about PSSR

At the Maritime Skills Academy, we can help your training company stay up to date with ever-evolving course and industry regulations. If you’d like to book PSSR training for yourself or your crew, then please contact our team today to find out more.

Maritime Damage Control | What Ship Owners and Operators Must Know to Stay Compliant

Why proactive training for maritime damage control is non-negotiable, and how the Maritime Skills Academy leads the way.

When a maritime emergency occurs, whether through collision, grounding, flooding, or structural failure, your crew’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively can determine the difference between a controlled incident and a catastrophic loss. Maritime damage control is not a best practice; it is a mandatory compliance requirement under international maritime regulation.

For ship owners and operators, understanding these obligations is essential. Having the correct procedures, documentation, training and drill routines is an expectation of regulatory practice under the top governing bodies, SOLAS, STCW and the ISM Code.

And yet very few training organisations have the capability for facilities to deliver genuine, hands-on damage control training. In fact, the Maritime Skills Academy (MSA) is the only UK training provider that delivers a dedicated maritime damage control course, giving operators a unique opportunity to ensure full compliance while enhancing operational resilience.

Why Maritime Damage Control Matters More Than Ever

With international regulators tightening their expectations around emergency preparedness, passenger ships are required to conduct damage control drills every three months under new SOLAS updates. Each drill is designed to test crew responses to scenarios such as flooding, stability loss, or other structural emergencies. These drills must simulate varied conditions and require crew to operate key systems such as watertight doors, bilge pumps, cross-flooding systems, and flooding detection devices.

Additionally, at least one drill annually must include activation of shore-based support to validate communication systems and stability assessment protocols.

Regulatory Requirements Every Owner and Operator Must Meet

No matter the vessel, safety implementation is there for a reason, and respected bodies of authority regulate the conditions of these vessels to ensure everyone is operating at a safe standard.

Authorities such as SOLAS, the ISM Code and STCW all stress the significance of regular drills and crew being thoroughly versed in emergency procedures. However, many operators struggle to maintain these expectations.

Despite clear regulatory expectations, these weaknesses can be, and regularly are, identified during flag-state inspections and ISM audits.

The most common pitfalls for operators are insufficient practical training, lack of realistic damage control situations, inconsistent drills, gaps in familiarity and audit findings.

How to close the Compliance Gap with Maritime Damage Control

As the UK’s only provider of dedicated maritime damage control training, the maritime Skills Academy offers an unparalleled service to ship owners and operators seeking to meet their regulatory obligations and enhance real-world readiness.

Our maritime damage control training course allows crew to train in realistic, controlled flooding environments, operate live bilge systems and watertight closure, practice flood containment with dewatering techniques, patching and shoring.

By recreating the high-stress environment under the guidance of our skilled instructors, crew are able to put their classroom learning into practice which is essential for real-world capability, bridging the gap between drills and emergencies.

Strengthen your compliance with the Maritime Skills Academy

Ship owners and operators carry the ultimate responsibility for ensuring their vessels and crew can withstand the unexpected. Strengthen your compliance. Strengthen your crew. Strengthen your ship.

The Maritime skills Academy is ready to support you with the UK’s only comprehensive maritime damage control training solution.

Navigating the Future of Polar Shipping – Insights from the 2025 Polar Maritime Seminar

Supporting Safer Polar Shipping

In January 2025, over 200 delegates from nearly 100 countries and organisations gathered at the IMO Headquarters in London for the Polar Maritime Seminar, co-sponsored by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Norway’s Chairship of the Arctic Council, in cooperation with the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group.

This significant event marked a key moment in the global conversation around polar maritime operations, uniting regulators, researchers, operators, and Indigenous representatives to address the increasing complexities of shipping in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Themes and Outcomes of the Polar Maritime Seminar

1. Trends in Polar Shipping and Vessel Activity

During the event, experts presented data showing a steady rise in Arctic and Antarctic traffic, driven by tourism, resource access, and scientific missions. The Arctic Ship Traffic Data (ASTD) project highlighted the need for improved monitoring and transparency to track pollutants emitted and promote a more sustainable method of traffic so as not to disrupt sensitive ecosystems.

2. Voyage Planning and Risk Management

With dedicated sessions on the importance of real-time data, satellite support, and proactive planning, the POLARIS risk indexing system was reviewed as a tool to help operators assess ice conditions and make safer routing decisions.

3. Search and Rescue (SAR) Challenges

Due to limited infrastructure in polar regions, SAR capabilities still remain a concern. Case studies, including the Northguider grounding, underscored the need for international collaboration and contingency planning.

4. Training and Competence Development

The seminar emphasised the importance of STCW polar modules and advanced simulation-based training. Speakers from the IMO, Norwegian Maritime Authority, and industry leaders discussed how to enhance crew readiness for polar conditions.

At the Maritime Skills Academy, training and competence development are at the heart of our deliverables. As the only MCA-approved, Polar Code Training centre in the world, our expertise and knowledge have seen many pass their Basic and Advanced courses, making the waters safer one vessel at a time.

5. Environmental Protection and Emissions

As a population, we should be making more of an effort to reduce our emissions and plastics that are harming the environment. The shipping industry alone accounts for approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and contributes to other concerns such as oil spills and noise pollution that affect marine life. The seminar raised all the above points, touching on the plastic pollution from fisheries, which is also a significant contributor to environmental disruption.

As a result, the decision was made to strengthen the Polar Code and expand emission control measures, especially in light of the Arctic’s accelerated warming.

6. Fishing Vessel Safety

The summit concluded with a decision to approve the Cape Town Agreement, establishing minimum safety standards for fishing vessels— a critical issue given their increasing presence in polar waters.

A Collaborative Path Forward

Speakers, including Ms Heike Deggim (IMO) and Ms Siv Christin Gaalaas (Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries), stressed the importance of balancing opportunity with responsibility. The seminar reinforced that safe and sustainable polar shipping requires:

Strong international cooperation
Continuous regulatory evolution
Investment in training and technology
Respect for Indigenous knowledge and ecosystems

The 2025 Polar Maritime Seminar sets the tone for the challenges and opportunities ahead. As we move into the winter season and more discussions on polar operations, we’ll explore how these themes translate into real-world practices from training and compliance to innovation and climate resilience.

The Maritime Skills Academy hopes that by raising awareness of these issues and providing essential training to crew, we can help Set New Standards Together in the maritime industry.