The Marshall Islands Quality Council (MIQC) met in London earlier this year for its biannual meeting, the first large scale in-person MIQC meeting since December 2019. The MIQC is a consultative consortium of industry experts and leaders that gather to share experiences, information, best practices and awareness on a diverse range of industry issues. Meetings are attended by MIQC members, invited guest speakers, and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry personnel.
The May meeting included a half-day series of presentations and a panel discussion, including RMI Registry updates, an RMI perspective on trends and changes in port State control, as well as an overview on the recent work and updates from regulatory bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). While the previous MIQC meeting in December 2021, which was virtual, focused on continued issues from the pandemic such as seafarers’ rights and welfare and remote inspections, the May 2022 panel looked at the impact of sanctions and restrictions on shipping from various sectors and perspectives. Joining the panel were: Martin Stopford, Director, MarEcon Ltd; Meredith Kirby, General Council, International Registries, Inc. (IRI) (Reston); Claudia Ohlmeier, Head of Section, Class Systematics, Data and Operation Centre, Maritime, DNV; Simon Grainge, Chief Executive, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN); and Sean Hutchings, Managing Director – Bulk, Thome Group of Companies.
MIQC meetings are a platform for sharing ideas and finding solutions through collaboration which is something the RMI Registry is fully committed to providing to enhance the future of the industry.
