Witherbys is owned and led by Captain Iain Macneil MNM, DUNIV. The company publishes operational and navigational guidance and technical standards for the shipping industry, both digitally and physically. Based in Livingston, it is also one of Scotland’s largest and most successful publishing companies.
Witherbys’ own titles are developed by our team of recent or currently serving mariners and are peer reviewed within work groups. Technical guidelines promote understanding of the regulations and recommendations issued by the industry and our navigational products promote safety in some of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Witherbys works in collaborative partnership with a number of key industry bodies (including BIMCO, CDI, IACS, IMarEST, the International Chamber of Shipping, OCIMF, SIGTTO and the UK Chamber of Shipping) to create specialist publications. Typically, these publications promote an enhanced understanding of the regulations, recommendations and guidelines issued by the industry body or by the IMO.
By keeping abreast of developments across the industry through the utilisation of Witherbys’ own research vessel, and by working with appropriate specialists, Witherbys is able to produce timely and detailed content on matters of current or future focus, such as cyber security, environmental protection and the increasing digitisation of the navigational bridge.
Witherbys is the oldest independent publisher in the English speaking world, having started out by publishing marine insurance clauses, something that we continue to do today. The company celebrated its 280th birthday in 2020.