It was the fate of just one ship, however, that underpins many of the safety principles that are still followed around the world, including by the MCA: the Titanic.
The famously "unsinkable" ocean liner went to the bottom in 1912 after crashing into an iceberg in the North Atlantic with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
Two years later in 1914 the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) was introduced for the first time – including the then novel requirement that passenger ships should carry sufficient lifeboats for all passengers and crew.
SOLAS in its modern form is now the foundation for much of the MCA's work to ensure the highest levels of maritime safety. MCA surveyors are on the frontline working with vessel owners and operators so that people can go on the water with confidence.
We work closely with operators with safety as a priority but often our ongoing work is not seen
Last summer, for example, more than 100 vessels were inspected in just two months around the UK, ranging from rowing boats to high-speed commuter craft.
The focused activity involved teams of surveyors from the MCA’s nine marine offices making unannounced and pre-planned visits during July and August 2024.
The busiest was Colchester Marine Office which has responsibility for the River Thames where fleets of domestic passenger vessels carry thousands of people every day.
During the inspections, all areas of the vessel are covered including the wheelhouse, passenger areas, and crew and technical spaces. Paperwork, including crew certification and vessel checklists are also inspected. Equipment and systems are tested at random to check everything is working correctly.
Mike Greenwood, MCA Technical Manager, said: “We work closely with operators with safety as a priority but often our ongoing work is not seen.
“During the inspections, feedback from the operators was positive. They were happy to co-operate and welcomed the proactive approach of the MCA in checking compliance.”
