Columbia Group has set out its priorities for 2026 with a clear focus on safety, people and inclusive leadership. 

Reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent occupational accidents, injuries, and diseases on board ships. These precautions include measures to reduce or eliminate exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors and chemicals, as well as risks of injury or disease arising from the use of equipment and machinery.

Risk assessment as a key responsibility of shipowners:

It is the shipowner’s responsibility to ensure that risk assessments are carried out on board with the aim of reducing risks to an acceptable minimum. When assessing risks, the following matters should be considered:

• safety and health of any seafarers under the age of 18 general and basic provisions;
• structural features of the ship, including means of access and asbestos-related risks;
• machinery
• the effects of any extremely low or high temperature of any surfaces with which seafarers may be in contact;
• the effects of noise in the work place and in shipboard accommodation;
• the effects of vibration in the workplace and in shipboard accommodation;• the effects of ambient factors, other than noise and vibration, in the workplace and in shipboard accommodation, including tobacco smoke;
• special safety measures on and below deck;
• loading and unloading equipment;
• fire prevention and fire-fighting;
• anchors, chains and lines;
• dangerous cargo and ballast;
• personal protective equipment for seafarers;
• work in enclosed spaces;
• physical and mental effects of fatigue;
• the effects of drug and alcohol dependency;
• HIV / AIDS protection and prevention;
• emergency and accident response; 
• safety of sub-contractors