Last week Siem Shipping hosted an Anti-Drug Smuggling Seminar at Trinity House in London, bringing together over 50 professionals from across the maritime, security and insurance sectors to share knowledge, strengthen cooperation and promote safer global trade.
The event formed part of Siem Shipping’s ongoing commitment to proactive risk management and operational integrity, with a focus on how collaboration across industry and enforcement can help prevent narcotics trafficking through legitimate shipping channels.
Shared Insight, Shared Responsibility
The seminar opened with introductions from Edward Dempster, Head of Legal for Siem Group, and Captain Doug Spooner, Risk Manager at Siem Shipping, who outlined the company’s continued investment in security training and inter-agency coordination.
Throughout the day, attendees explored a wide range of subjects drawn directly from operational experience and international case studies, including:
- Smuggling trends and concealment techniques across global trade routes
- Security challenges in Latin America and West Africa
- Operational risk and due diligence in port environments
- Crew awareness, reporting and response protocols
- The impact of compliance frameworks such as ISPS and C-TPAT on day-to-day shipping operations
Industry Collaboration in Focus
Speakers and participants represented a broad cross-section of the maritime community, including the UK Home Office, Border Force, National Crime Agency, Britannia P&I, Skuld, DNK, the Liberian and Bahamian Maritime Authorities, Belgian and German Customs, and representatives from French and Belgian Embassies.
Sessions led by Siem Ship Management covered the company’s own security practices and reinforced the value of crew training, incident reporting and continuous improvement across its global fleet.
A Continued Commitment to Security
The event concluded with open discussion and networking, allowing attendees to share lessons learned and identify future opportunities for cooperation.
Siem Shipping extends its appreciation to all speakers, partners and guests who took part. Through active engagement and shared expertise, the company continues to support a safer and more transparent maritime industry.