Brookes Bell Champions Maritime Safety at Nautical Institute Seminar

Brookes Bell was proud to sponsor this year’s Nautical Institute North West Branch Seminar, ‘Shipboard Firefighting in the 21st Century’, held in Liverpool. The event brought together maritime professionals, safety experts, and cadets to explore the evolving challenges of managing fires at sea in an era of increasingly complex vessels and cargoes.

The seminar examined a range of real-world case studies, highlighting the dangers and difficulties of tackling fires involving modern cargoes using shipboard crews and firefighting tugs. Presentations also explored current firefighting training, equipment, and onboard installations, considering what must change to meet the needs of modern shipping. Delegates discussed the challenges faced by seafarers when using safety equipment and examined the latest evidence and practices presented by leading maritime and firefighting specialists.

Adrian Scales, Head of Europe at Brookes Bell and Chairman of the Nautical Institute North West Branch, presided over the event. Brookes Bell’s Managing Master Mariner, Karley Smith, delivered a presentation drawing on her extensive experience investigating fires onboard, offering first-hand insights into how incidents unfold and what lessons can be learned to improve prevention and response.

Thanks to the generosity of the event sponsors, including Bibby Marine, Boluda Towage, Hill Dickinson, SKULD, and Solis Marine, cadets from Fleetwood Nautical Campus, part of Blackpool and the Fylde College, were able to attend the seminar. Their participation helped to connect future mariners with industry leaders and provided an invaluable learning experience for those beginning their careers at sea.

The seminar reinforced the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement as the maritime sector adapts to new risks and technologies. It also underlined the critical role of training, preparedness, and innovation in ensuring safety at sea in the 21st century.