In May 2026, the Marshall Islands Quality Council (MIQC) gathered in London for its first meeting of the year. A consultative group of shipowners, ship managers, attorneys, and industry leaders, the MIQC gathers biannually to discuss current events and industry topics aimed at enhancing Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry operations. The MIQC is chaired by Rear Admiral (RADM) Kevin S. Cook, United States Coast Guard (USCG), (Retired). This meeting included several guest speakers as well as updates from International Registries, Inc. (IRI), which provides administrative and technical support to the RMI Registry.
MIQC members welcomed several guest speakers including USCG Rear Admiral Wayne R. Arguin Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, who joined at the end of the meeting to provide an update on the status of the USCG 2025 Annual Port State Control Report. The report, published in the days following the MIQC meeting, recognizes the RMI for a 22nd consecutive year on the USCG’s QUALSHIP 21 roster; the only Registry in the world to maintain 22 consecutive years. The RMI is the world’s third largest registry following Panama and Liberia, and the only one of three to achieve QUALSHIP status for 2025.
The USCG’s report is reflective of the presentation made by Brian Poskiatis, Senior Vice President, Fleet Operations, during the MIQC, which highlighted the Registry’s active engagement with global PSC authorities and its continuous commitment to reduce vulnerabilities through quality, compliance, and value.
Earlier in the day, a dialogue on maritime security included perspectives and insights from Evan Curt, Vice President, Maritime Security (IRI Reston) and Brian Green, Vice President, Maritime (IRI Ft. Lauderdale); as well as Captain Andy Brown MBE, Royal Navy (Retired) and Director, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre; and Commander Peter Williams, Royal Navy (Retired) and UK Manager for the Japanese Shipowners’ Association. Guest speaker Matthew Thomas, Partner at Blank Rome LLP presented on Section 301 of the United States Trade Representative’s policies and other trade issues. RMI Offshore Advisory Group (OAG) Chair and Senior Manager, Global Marine Operations for Transocean Ltd., Peter Griffiths, provided an update from the OAG. A large part of the afternoon agenda was dedicated to navigating the uncertainty of environmental regulations. Guest speakers from Clarksons Research, Sarah Holden, Director, Market Research Group, and Charlotte Leach, Shipping Research Analyst, presented a report on the uptake on alternative fuels. Focused on the shipping finance perspective, Kaspar Meibom, Corporate Finance, Simpson Spence Young Global presented on a path to net zero. These presentations were followed by an insightful panel discussion moderated by Chief Maritime Officer Simon Bonnett (IRI London) and panelists Alexandre Albertini, Chief Executive Officer of Marfin Management S.A.M; Bhuvnesh Dogra, Chief Technical Officer of Union Maritime Limited; and Stavros Meidanis, Managing Director of Capital Containers Ship Management Corp. The meeting concluded with a presentation on compliance from guest speaker Ole Christian Shrøder, Principal at OSCO Maritime LLC.
The MIQC meets on the premise that open dialogue and information sharing are critical to enhancing safe vessel operation. Biannual MIQC meetings support relationship building across industry sectors and create a regular opportunity for formal and informal open discussion on industry trends, events, and changes.
