The Nautical Institute London Branch will host its biennial conference on 30 June 2026, bringing together senior maritime, legal, insurance, security and welfare experts to examine the growing geopolitical and security risks facing seafarers and global shipping.

Taking place at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, the full-day conference, Geopolitical maritime risks and security threats to seafarers: Protecting seafarers in a volatile world, will focus on how conflict, criminality, unlawful detentions, cyber threats, abandonment and emerging security risks are affecting those working at sea.

Recent events have highlighted the vulnerability of the maritime domain to both known and emerging threats. Crews are increasingly required to navigate conflict zones, piracy and armed kidnapping risks, drone and missile attacks, GNSS disruption, cyber-attacks, dark fleet activity and the operational consequences of sanctions evasion and geopolitical instability.

The conference will examine how these threats can manifest and combine, while exploring the practical measures needed to protect seafarers, support shipping operations and strengthen the industry’s longer-term resilience.

Steve Cameron FNI, Chair of the London Branch of The Nautical Institute, will open the conference, followed by Conference Chairman Mr Walter Vervloesem FNI, President of The Nautical Institute. The keynote speech will be delivered by Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization.

Sessions will cover a wide range of current and emerging risks, including global maritime risk trends, war and conflict hot spots, legal challenges for crews, naval and NATO response measures, the threats posed by the global shadow fleet, GNSS jamming and spoofing, cyber risk, seafaring in conflict zones, abandonment and seafarer welfare.

Speakers include representatives from UK War Risks Club, Risk Intelligence, Tatham & Co, the Royal Navy’s Operational Advantage Centre, Windward, BMT, CyberOwl, Stella Maris UK and other maritime specialists.

The event is designed to analyse these challenges from the mariner’s point of view and will be relevant to seafarers, shipowners, charterers, insurers, underwriters, surveyors, consultants, claims handlers, lawyers, security professionals, navy personnel and wider maritime stakeholders.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, take part in substantive panel discussions and network with an international cross-section of maritime professionals.

The conference will take place at the IMO Building, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, on Tuesday 30 June 2026. Registration opens at 08:30, with the conference running from 08:50 to 17:45, followed by an evening networking reception until 21:00.

Registration fees are £100 for Nautical Institute sea-going members, £195 for shore-based members, £50 for cadets and students, and £280 for non-members. Fees include conference attendance, conference papers, refreshments, lunch and the evening reception.