About Marine Safety Guide
I’m not a big company or a manufacturer—just someone who’s spent nearly 20 years working around boats, offshore projects and marine safety.
After years offshore, I decided to create the resource I always wished existed. I found myself helping friends and colleagues with questions about safety equipment, training and emergency procedures, even though I didn’t want to, but its a must. I realised there was plenty of information online, but not much that explained things in plain English and with independence in one main directory.
That’s why I created Marine Safety Guide.
Everything here is written to be clear, practical and independent, drawing on real experience and supported by guidance from organisations like the MCA, IMO and SOLAS where appropriate.
Whether you’re a weekend sailor, a yacht crew member or work commercially offshore, I hope these guides help you stay safer and make choosing the right equipment a little easier.
Who is behind this site?
I’m James, I started working on the water at 18, crewing yachts across the Mediterranean and Caribbean through deck and engineering roles. I’m 38 now — so that’s nearly two decades of life at sea in one form or another.
Three years ago I moved into commercial maritime work and since then I’ve worked across a huge variety of vessels and environments around the UK and Europe — wind farm CTVs and CSOVs, cargo runs to offshore installations, and a lot in between, while on offshore rotations, I decided to create the resource I always wished existed. I know what a real MOB drill looks like, what it’s actually like to get an immersion suit on under pressure, and what separates kit that genuinely performs from equipment that just ticks a regulatory box.
My certifications (To name a few)
BOSIET | HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) | STCW 2010 | AEC 1&2 | RYA Coastal Skipper | PADI Divemaster | LST | 18th Edition Electrical
My marine experience and interests:
- Commercial marine experience
- Many years offshore
- Strong knowledge and interest of safety equipment & emergency drills
- Engineering/ Electrical IT experience by trade both marine and shorebased
How I approach this site
Every product I cover is looked at through three lenses — does it meet the relevant regulations, does it actually work in practice, and is it worth the money. Where I have direct experience with something I’ll tell you. Where I’m drawing on official MCA, SOLAS, or HSE documentation I’ll tell you that too. I’ll never recommend something I wouldn’t trust at sea myself.
Where affiliate links appear they are clearly disclosed and they never influence what I recommend. If something isn’t worth buying I’ll say so.
Got a question about a piece of kit or a regulation you can’t get a straight answer on? Get in touch — that’s exactly what this is here for.