Just three years after its introduction, the five-day Background to Shipping seminar from leading training provider Lloyd’s Maritime Academy is now established as a major foundation course for both experienced practitioners and industry newcomers. Enrolment is under way for the ninth seminar in the series, which takes place in central London from December 3-7 and, like its predecessors, is attracting staff from some of the world’s best-known shipowners, ship managers, and related service providers. Almost 200 delegates have attended the eight previous courses, with shipping professionals joined by support sector personnel ranging from bankers, insurers and lawyers to freight forwarders and port operators.