A new “ginger group” of well-known maritime figures has announced a blog advocating more active involvement in the crusade for safer ships and cleaner seas, bridging the communication gap between conservation and environmental groups, industry decision-makers, and governments. At a press conference in London on 1 December 2009, Clay Maitland, a maritime executive and commentator, warned that ship quality standards are at risk due to financial cost-cutting during the present recession.
At the meeting, Maitland announced the start-up of a new website (http://www.claymaitland.com) focusing on stimulating a dialogue on the environmental standards generally described as “quality issues.” Maitland has been employed in the administration of flag state safety and environmental programmes for 33 years, and has been a lawyer for more than four decades. He is presently a Managing Partner of International Registries, Inc., and will participate in the blog solely as an independent spokesperson for the industry.