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Bluewater are proud to announce that they will be sponsoring the 16th Annual Sea Changes Forum hosted by The Professional Yachting Association (PYA), taking place on Thursday 24th September 2026 during the Monaco Yacht Show. With a top line-up of guests, the PYA Monaco Sea Changes Forum has proven to be a great success in recent years, and attracts many crew, captains and industry professionals. Speaking at the 2026 Sea Changes Forum will be our Director of Training, John Wyborn
Sea Changes Forum Agenda 2026:
15:30 Forum Registration Open, International Hydrographic Organisation,
4b Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco
Welcome
15:55 Alicia Jordan, Sea Service and Development at Professional Yachting Association
& Captain Dave Watkins, Deputy Director Maritime, CHIRP
“Welcome”
16:00 Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi, Secretary-General International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO)
“Welcome to the IHO.”
Part One:
Flag State Panel – Introduction and moderation by Dave (CHIRP)
16:05 Julian Smith, Regional Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa - Cayman Islands Shipping Registry
“Voluntary Compliance – Raising the Bar”
16:10 Jef Van Rossum, Marine Investigator and Rene van der Voort, Senior Safety Manager, Yachts - Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator
“Yacht incident analysis and safety challenges”
16:20 Mark Savona, Safety Coordinator Technical Department Merchant Shipping Directorate Transport Malta
“Flag State Updates.”
16:25 Dylan Cocklan, Gibraltar Maritime Administration
“Safety Management Beyond Compliance: A Flag State Perspective.”
16:30 Chris Martin, Principal Surveyor Isle of Man Ship Registry
“Flag State Updates.”
16:35 Emeric Faure, Chef du Guichet Unique du Registre International Français - Head of French International Register
“Introduction to the RIF, highlighting the working conditions of crew on board French yachts.”
Part Two:
Training, crew working conditions and our seabed
16:45 Richard Falk, Director of Training and Qualifications for the Royal Yachting Association
“RYA Update from Training and Qualifications.”
17:00 John Wyborn, Co-founder and Director of Bluewater
“Training Record Book.”
17:10 Joey Meen, Director of the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI), Director of the IAMI GUEST Program, and President of the Superyacht Alliance for Professional Standards.
“Evolving Professional Development for the Superyacht Industry”
17:25 Captain Javed Munir, Assistant Director for Seafarers Training, Safety and Health at the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
“Update on UK Seafaring Training.”
17:35 Sophie Peacey, Seafarer Living and Working Conditions Manager at UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
“Latest MLC updates.”
17:45 Matthew Zimmerman, CEO and Co-Founder of FarSounder, Inc.
"Safeguarding Whale Populations: The Yachting Community’s Role in Conservation"
17:55 Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi, Secretary-General International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO)
“Update on the IHO mapping.”
18:00 Social gathering/Networking reception
This forum brings together yacht crew, training providers, industry leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the developments, challenges and opportunities shaping the professional yachting industry. Providing a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge, training expert perspectives and ensuring the voices of those working within the industry remain very much part of the conversation.
We look forward to seeing you there!
