Captain Sean N Noonan

Sean Noonan has spent more than two decades at the sharp end of interviews, inspections, and investigations in the global marine industry. His career spans roles as lead auditor for ISM, ISO, TMSA, and SAM; principal investigator of incidents for companies, P&I clubs, and courts; and OCIMF SIRE inspector and vetter on behalf of TotalEnergies. He has also worked extensively as an internal, external, and third-party reviewer, consistently tasked with driving continuous improvement. Over the years, Sean has interviewed tens of thousands of seafarers and shore staff across thousands of ships and hundreds of companies. Seagoing Experience: Before moving ashore, Sean served at sea for over 20 years on a wide variety of vessels with companies including BP, Worldwide Shipping, Denholms, Esso, and Wallems Ship Management. He remains an active advocate for the wellbeing of seafarers and for the profession of seafaring as a whole. Management & Industry Leadership: When first ashore, Sean joined Tarquin Gas Carriers Ltd, the company of Jim White, one of the fathers of the gas trade. There, he led the team in improving organisational culture and revising the safety management system. Under his leadership, TGC became the industry leader in safety, topping performance tables in the ITOSF. As a result of this success, Sean was invited to co-author the Nautical Institute’s “Cracking the Code” (2003), published at the IMO headquarters in London, which helped shape how seafarers and companies applied the ISM Code in practice. Professional Development: In 2005, Sean attended a presentation on interview technique by one of the UK’s most respected police officers. The principles he learned transformed his approach to inspections, enabling more authentic information gathering. He later integrated these techniques into his own training for inspectors and auditors. In 2021, Sean became an accredited consultant with the Resilient Leaders Elements (RLE™) community, applying the framework to develop resilient leadership within the marine sector and beyond. Contributions and Current Work: Sean has supported companies worldwide in enhancing safety cultures and system applications, and has presented at universities, training colleges, and international conferences. Today, he writes guides such as Everyone’s Guide to Safety (EGTS) and Everyone’s Guide to Interviewing (EGTI) to share lessons learned, helping organisations move towards their Maximum Safety Potential (MSP). Personal Approach: Above all, Sean remains committed to continuous learning, seeking new perspectives and concepts every day, with the conviction that people are the foundation of safety, resilience, and success.