Wilhelmsen launches AimZero, a global initiative urging zero-harm hot work practices at sea, promoting crew training, equipment compliance, and a proactive safety culture across the maritime industry.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has officially launched AimZero, a global safety initiative that calls for a renewed industry-wide commitment to hot work safety onboard ships. Designed to move beyond regulatory compliance, the AimZero campaign encourages shipowners, operators, and technical managers to embed a culture of zero harm – one that protects people, assets, and long-term operational performance.
Despite decades of regulatory development and safety advisories, hot work – which includes welding, cutting, heating and grinding – remains one of the leading causes of fires, explosions and fatalities at sea. According to a decade of claims data from a leading marine insurer, over half of incidents related to hot work result in significant Hull & Machinery losses, while the rest fall under P&I coverage – from crew injuries to cargo damage and third-party liability.
To address this persistent challenge, Wilhelmsen Ships Service AimZero campaign takes a structured and strategic approach built on the 5M safety framework: Man, Machine, Material, Method, and Measurement. The initiative delivers practical tools and training, encourages equipment compliance from newbuild to drydock, and promotes behavioural change in seafarer mindset through its Unitor™ Welding Schools and Welding Safety Inspection service.
“Safety is not a checkbox – it’s a continuous investment in people and performance,” said Chris Teoh, Senior Product Manager – Welding & Repair at Wilhelmsen Ships Service. “With AimZero, we are not simply targeting lower incident rates; we are building an operating culture that starts with the crew and extends to charterers, insurers, and regulators alike.”
A key part of the campaign is a powerful new video produced in collaboration with maritime safety leaders UK P&I Club, Gard AS, and NorthStandard. The film was directed by Carl King, founder of Seafarer Social, and features real-life testimonies from global seafarers. The message is clear: a proactive safety culture must begin on deck, with leadership that empowers and equips crew to take ownership of their work and their safety.
The timing is right. Inspection regimes such as OCIMF’s SIRE 2.0 and RightShip’s RISQ 3.1 now require clear evidence of crew training, equipment compliance and safe working environments. AimZero supports shipowners in not only meeting these standards, but exceeding them – ensuring ships remain operational, compliant, and safe.
With increasing scrutiny around ESG reporting and operational transparency, hot work safety is now more than an internal matter. It ties directly to the ‘Social’ pillar of ESG – protecting seafarer welfare and showcasing responsible leadership to stakeholders across the value chain.
“Through our Unitor™ portfolio – from certified equipment to on-board welding inspections – we are making it easier than ever for shipowners to achieve zero harm as a practical reality,” added Teoh.
Wilhelmsen’s AimZero is a call to action: to reduce inspection findings, eliminate accidents, and champion safety as a core value of maritime leadership. As the campaign gains global traction, the message is simple: the future of safe hot work begins now, and it begins with us.
