Qualifying as a solicitor back in 1984, Simon Daniels has specialised in criminal and marine litigation ever since. Over the past four decades, Simon has also undertaken the necessary qualifications to become a qualified dispute resolver in his own right and a member of the Faculty of Mediation and ADR (alternative dispute resolution), which was founded by London’s Academy of Experts. A number of years ago, Simon brought his professional background in this space to Solent University in Southampton, working in its legal faculty. In 2008, Simon was invited to join another of Solent’s campuses, this time managing the well-known Merchant Vessel Operations programme at Warsash Maritime Academy, one of the leading training centres in the world for merchant shipping professionals. Working at Solent University for another 11 years, Simon left in 2019 to pursue a career in maritime research and consultancy, working for the Nautical Institute and exploring his primary interest of the criminalisation of the ship’s master – with his thesis on the subject awarding him a PhD in 2012. This paper is just one of many books and other such works published by Simon in this field over the years, with his diverse portfolio covering everything from academic papers to a book entitled Corporate Manslaughter in the Maritime and Aviation Industries, which was published by Routledge. Just last year, Simon even co-authored a complete update and review of The Shipmaster’s Business SelfExaminer, the flagship publication of the Nautical Institute, which Simon continues to have close ties with as one of its principal lecturers. With such an esteemed background to boot, Simon has positioned himself as the UK’s foremost authority on seafarer legal consulting matters, work he carries out alongside the books and articles he writes and the interactive courses he delivers online. Answering the difficult questions and helping others to find peace and justice in what is an increasingly disharmonised legal system, Simon prides himself on embodying the values of confidentiality, excellence, independence, honesty, respect, and integrity every single day. Equally as important for Simon is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to both the laws themselves and the cases that they decide, with these defining criminalisation trends in this niche. Providing us with an example of this, Simon explained: “The world of maritime and aviation criminalisation is evolving with a developing policy known as Just Culture, which provides guidance to enforcement and prosecuting authorities on the criminal investigation and prosecution of potential criminal offences resulting from accidents.” Simon continued: “The seafarer has a duty to take the standard of care, reasonably expected of such a professional in his position, to guard against acts or omissions which might cause loss and give rise to a claim in negligence. The Just Culture ‘trend’ is designed to promote continuous learning from previous mistakes and to encourage professionals to trust in the process without fear of punishment for the human element of errors, while underlining that it is unacceptable to give blanket immunity from sanctions to reckless actions.” Developments such as this in the stem from UK’s centuries of evolution within the field of maritime law, with the professionals who both man and manage these operations continuing to have a strong influence on the international sphere – despite the percentage of Britain’s ships having reduced dramatically. With criminal accountability continuing to develop worldwide – colliding with maritime law in the process – Simon is one of the professionals helping to navigate this unfamiliar territory. As for the rest of 2025, Simon has already commenced work on an important initiative, with a project that involves seafarer accountability and responsibility in areas where the geopolitical landscape is still emerging – such as the Arctic. Beyond this, Simon remains as committed as ever to his dynamic work with the Nautical Institute, as well as staying at the forefront of shifts when it comes to the criminalisation of seafarers. A beacon of fair treatment and a font of knowledge in this sector, Simon Daniels’ humility, unique insights, and quest to do the right thing make him a fitting recipient of this award. Contact: Simon Daniels Company: Simon Daniels Books Web Address: https://simondanielsbooks.co.uk/ For ships and seafarers alike, the laws of the sea have become increasingly complicated, with the modern marine environment being top of the priority list for port states across the world. With society demanding someone be held accountable for both the human and environmental losses experienced, seafarers are facing increased persecution and unfair treatment – paraded around as convenient scapegoats to benefit the prosecuting states. Luckily, Simon Daniels is on somewhat of a crusade to protect these individuals, and we caught up with him to find out more. Seafarer Legal Consultant of the Year 2025: Simon Daniels
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