150 Years of UK P&I Club
The UK P&I Club reached a significant milestone in 2019, marking 150 years of service to the maritime industry.
150 Years together
Since 1869, we’ve been committed to helping our Members manage risk, prevent loss, and enhance safety at sea.
The UK P&I Club was established during a period of significant technological advancement with the advent of steam-powered ships. Over the last 150 years, we’ve witnessed drastic changes in maritime navigation and crew operations, continually adapting to meet the evolving needs of our Members.
Thanks to the ongoing efforts of maritime charities and young promising talent, the future looks bright. Learn more about the Club's History, our 2019 celebrations and plans for a safer tomorrow.
Celebrations at the National Maritime Museum
The UK P&I Club celebrated its 150th anniversary with a grand gala dinner at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, hosting 350 members and shipping industry leaders from around the world.
Set in the museum's north wing, the evening featured a three-course meal accompanied by a live string quartet. Artist Ben Mosley painted the scene in real-time, with his work later displayed at the Club's London office.
Reverend Cannon Andrew Wright from the Mission to Seafarers opened the evening with a speech about the WeCare programme and delivered a special grace.
Hugo Wynn-Williams addressed the gathering, discussing the Club's initiatives to improve safety in the shipping industry. The evening culminated in an award ceremony for the Club's 'Investing in a Safer Tomorrow' competition, showcasing innovative ideas from young maritime professionals.
The Gala dinner was a memorable event that celebrated the UK P&I Club's rich history and commitment to the maritime industry. Watch the highlights of the Gala dinner & celebrations by clicking the links below.
Investing in a Safer Tomorrow
For over 150 years, we’ve been at the forefront of P&I, challenging conventions with innovative services and embracing new sectors and technologies. To celebrate our 150th anniversary, we launched the ‘Investing in a Safer Tomorrow’ competition. Which challenged students and those embarking on a maritime career both at sea and on shore, to develop innovative, industry changing ideas with a focus on improving safety at sea.
We are extremely proud of our 150-year heritage, but it is also vital to look forward to ensure that shipping remains ready for the challenges of the future. The ‘Investing in a Safer Tomorrow’ competition reaffirms our commitment to improving safety at sea and fostering innovation in the industry. Shipping has a rich history of creativity and invention, and attracting new talent to the industry will help create the thought leaders of tomorrow.”
Hugo-Wynn Williams - Chairman of Thomas Miller P&I
To learn more about the ‘Investing in a Safer Tomorrow’ competition, the winners, and their innovative ideas, please click the toggles below.
UK Club Visits Maritime Cadets
To raise awareness for the 'Safer Tomorrow' initiative, our Senior Loss Prevention Advisor Anuj Velankar and Risk Assessor Ansuman Ghosh visited maritime cadets at the Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education Training (MANET) and Tolani Maritime Institute in India. Their visit aimed to inspire the next generation of maritime professionals and highlight the importance of safety at sea.
Competition details
Participants, either in teams of up to four or as individuals, proposed improvements to various aspects of sea safety, from enhancing seafarer wellbeing to creating tangible inventions for physical safety or navigation.
In the first stage, entrants submitted a summary of their concept and how it could improve industry safety, along with the required written and visual documentation by the set date. After evaluating the submissions based on originality, relevancy, and simplicity, shortlisted entrants met with our Loss Prevention team, master mariners, and business leaders to further develop their ideas.
Shortlisted competitors then had four months to finalize their proposals and produce a video, whitepaper, or presentation for the final judging
Entrants had the opportunity to share their ideas on a global platform, gain access to maritime industry experts, and expand their professional networks. Finalists were flown, all expenses paid, to the UK in June 2019 to attend our 150th Gala Dinner in London. The competition culminated in a final judging and prize awards at the Gala Dinner, with the winning ideas recognized for their innovation and impact.The judging panel consisted of UK Club Board Members, Thomas Miller senior leaders, and external industry experts.
Winners
- 1st place: Puiyush Jian's (India) entry improves the current 'passive' Deadman Alarm System. Jian designed a cost-effective, simple and easy-to-install 'active' system using a wireless hand-held transmitter.
- 2nd place: Muhammad Harith Bin Rahmat, Nurfatin Khairru'nisa Bte Abdul Sha'alam, Muhammad Syahmi Bin Sulaiman, Nurul Insyirah Binte Bau Bakar (team entry from Singapore). Inspired by an aircraft's Black Box recorder, SLAM (Safety Locator Assistance Monitoring System) tracks and monitors the location of individual crew members in high risk areas.
- 3rd place: Santosh Godhi, Niranjan Shinde and Sunil Patil (team entry from India) developed 'The Life Band', which is worn like a wristwatch and uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the ship's Man Over Board system.