Alert! - a strong international brand

Over twelve years ago, Julian Parker, the Secretary of The Nautical Institute, and Vaughan Pomeroy, Manager, Research and Development, Lloyd’s Register, began to develop an idea for a publication devoted to raising awareness of human element issues.

Over twelve years ago, Julian Parker, the Secretary of The Nautical Institute, and Vaughan Pomeroy, Manager, Research and Development, Lloyd’s Register, began to develop an idea for a publication devoted to raising awareness of human element issues.

Evidence from The Nautical Institute’s confidential marine reporting scheme, MARS, was indicating that there was a need for a defined, authoritative body of knowledge, across a diverse, global and changing maritime industry, to help improve safety by encouraging ship designers, builders, managers and operators to adopt relevant human element principles. Lloyd’s Register acknowledged that awareness of the human element needed to be improved amongst those making the day-to-day decisions that affect ship design and operation.

In 2003, The Nautical Institute put a bid for funding to the embryonic Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust, resulting in twelve issues of Alert! and the related website, which was launched in October 2003

By 2006, when an application was submitted for a second series of a further nine issues, the vision and leadership of its initiators was clear. Alert! had become a strong international brand and vital safety resource to the maritime industry, winning praise from professionals, including the prestigious Seatrade awards in 2004. Issues 13-21 built on awareness raised by focussing on tools, procedures and techniques for applying human element principles.

Now, four series later, Lloyd’s Register Foundation is delighted to recognise this achievement with publication of Issue No. 40. We can celebrate an extensive readership: 4,000 copies of each issue are read electronically, together with 55,000 print copies reaching international maritime training and professional organisations worldwide.

The legacy of Alert! is much more than the bulletin. We are grateful to The Nautical Institute for continuing to manage the website, where thousands have already accessed all of the bulletins, and additional content including instructive videos and a library of papers, articles and illustrations, so that this significant resource remains available.

An international network of interdisciplinary industry leaders continues to share ideas. Ultimately, the impact of this partnership is to improve conditions for seafarers and safety at sea. Lloyd’s Register Foundation is rightly proud of its long association with Alert! from its very beginnings.