Seaways Focus - May 2026
Spotlight on the unseen seafarer
by Trevor Bailey MNM CMMar FNI President of The Nautical Institute
For many years, we have seen international campaigns to address the issue of ‘sea blindness’ – the lack of understanding or appreciation of the importance and significance of maritime trade to the world’s economy. These campaigns have been largely unsuccessful and the general public and politicians remain blind. However, recent military actions in the Gulf region may have had an unintended consequence; the world is now much more aware of what shipping provides to the global economy and to supply chains.
It is to be hoped that it is also aware of the people who make that shipping a reality. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial shipping, both inward and outward bound, has left many ships and their crews effectively stranded in the region. The IMO and the wider maritime community, including The Nautical Institute, have made numerous appeals to raise concerns that the welfare of a large number of seafarers is seriously impacted. The ongoing situation affects not just the supply of fuel, food and water to their ships – but also the mental health of those on board, when relief may not be possible as expected. This in turn will have further impacts on their families, and we must support every effort to look after our colleagues in this area.
To return to the question of trade routes, the Secretary General of the IMO has drawn comparisons to the effect on world trade when the Ever Given container ship grounded in the Suez Canal for five days. The war in the Gulf has lasted far longer and will probably have far greater consequences. Earlier paramilitary operations by Houthi rebels in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait have also had a significant impact, and many liner trades now take the longer sea route around the Cape to avoid the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, thus delaying the delivery of essential commodities and goods worldwide.
We should be very aware of the use of jamming and spoofing of GNSS signals in the region, which seriously interfere with the safety of navigation in this vital waterway. Such tactics are not solely restricted to this area. The London Branch of The Nautical Institute will include coverage of this topic, among other issues, at its major conference on geopolitical risk and security threats ‘Protecting seafarers in a volatile world’, to be held at IMO Headquarters in London at the end of June.
It is perhaps timely to consider that the current impact on the global supply of oil and gas will probably accelerate the development and adoption of so-called ‘alternative fuels’. These are not yet readily available and it will take some time before their use becomes a matter of routine, but is important to ensure issues around their use are raised at the development stage. The Nautical Institute will continue to represent all seafarers in the discussions in committee and plenary at the IMO, with a view to ensuring that the adoption of these alternative technologies will not have an adverse effect on our seafaring colleagues.
Later this month, I shall complete my two-year appointment as President of The Nautical Institute, when I hand over the ‘gong’ to Walter Vervloesem. My time in office has given me great personal and professional satisfaction. I should like to take this opportunity to thank all our members who have supported me in this role. I must thank, as well, the incredible and hard-working teams at NI HQ, without whom our Institute would not continue to flourish or be able to represent our members in so many forums.
Wherever you are as you read this, I wish you safe passage and smooth seas – or a comfortable commute to the office or to your favourite relaxing retirement chair.