UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Officer Trainee of the Year Announced
at my college as well as those at my training company but, in particular, my mentor, Captain Ann, and my biggest supporter, my mum Catherine. I would not be here today without all the support, wisdom and belief from everyone, so thank you for helping me achieve my dream career."Virginia McVea, MCA chief executive who presented the award on the night, said, "Katie’s hard work, strong academic performance and willingness to promote the industry was behind this expert panel of industry judges choosing her as the 2023 winner. It was a privilege to meet Katie and present her with such
McVea Tapped to Lead the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Virginia McVea has been named as the next chief executive officer of the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) effective April 3, 2023.Damien Oliver has been serving as the MCA's interim CEO since October 2022, following the retirement of the agency's former head Brian Johnson.U.K. Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said, "[McVea] joins at a pivotal time for the agency as it faces both challenges and exciting opportunities, and I look forward to working with her to grow the U.K. flag, decarbonize the maritime sector and encourage greater investment in the U.K."McVea was previously
Stream Marine Training Re-opens
Stream Marine Training (SMT) reopened for business on June 1, offering a blended digital and classroom based range of STCW safety critical courses to support the maritime industry’s key workers.Having run dozens of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, MCA approved STCW webinars over the past month, the team at SMT has put together a schedule that allows their customers to do the theoretical elements of the Basic Safety Week and Refresher cycles using a live interactive digital platform.For the practical elements, new stringent policies that comply with the HSE and Government guidelines have
Profiles in Maritime Training: Martyn Thomas, Chief of Staff, Stream Marine Training Ltd. (SMT)
and survival training. “Our instructors have a breadth of industry knowledge and help our clients build courses to meet their needs where required; this department operates over our three sites,” said Thomas. In recent weeks we have been approved by both the Bahamas Maritime Authority and the MCA to deliver a number of STCW courses through the use of Webinars. This is allowing us to deliver classroom teaching around the world to seafarers requiring training during this period of restricted travel.Following the launch of its Alternative Fuels (LNG) training in 2017, SMT decided to create a
Maritime Fatigue: Just another band aid?
sector. It stated in a recent report: Because “powering through” fatigue is simply not an acceptable option, fatigue management systems need to allow individuals to acknowledge fatigue without jeopardizing their employment. Likewise, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) considers seafarer fatigue to be a potentially serious issue which is detrimental to safety at sea and the health of seafarers.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the following:Everyone has experienced fatigue at some point, but in the transport industry, where there’s often
Shoreman Port Announces Changes in Board
and to question and challenge the Port’s safety culture.Replacing Nicholls, Shoreham Port welcomes Sir Alan Massey to the Board. Massey has extensive maritime experience, having served for 33 years in the Royal Navy before taking over as Chief Executive of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) in 2010. As a naval officer, he commanded an impressive number of major warships, including the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, later sitting for five consecutive years on the Admiralty and Navy Boards. Sir Alan Massey’s naval career culminated as Second Sea Lord and Commander-i
New Seafarer Training Center Opens in Phuket
can walk to all the Galileo campus facilities in the 200 acre site which includes a marine engineering school, a survival craft and fast rescue boats training jetty, an advanced fire-fighting school and 8 training vessels moored in the marina.Galileo is accredited by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and approved to provide 21 MCA professional seafarer courses and to issue MCA Certificates of Proficiency including basic and advanced STCW qualifications and refresher courses. Over the last five years Galileo Maritime Academy has established itself as the flag-ship MCA training center for professional
Thailand Emerges as an International Maritime Training Center
Since mid 2015 when MCA first approved a Thailand based seafarer training facility, that destination has experienced growth as a popular focus for both advanced seafarers and also entry level crew to complete STCW 2010 and the new updating STCW courses.Anthony Gould, CEO and major investor in Galileo Maritime Academy, said at the recent launch of their Survival Craft and Fast Rescue Boats training facility in Phuket, “Over the last three years international professional seafarers coming to Phuket, Thailand for advanced refresher and other MCA courses in approved marine engineering, efficient
MCA’s CEO Massey to Retire by End 2018
Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) chief executive Sir Alan Massey announced he plans to retire from the role before the end of 2018. The Department of Transport will begin its search for Massey’s successor on March 19. Massey will continue in his role until late 2018 to allow the chief executive appointment process to take place. Massey joined the MCA in July 2010 after a 33-year career with the Royal Navy, where he left as Second Sea Lord. During his eight-year tenure at MCA, Massey steered the agency through changes to modernize Her Majesty’s Coastguard, new
MCA Officer Trainee of the Year Honored
Officer for Princess Cruises. He took a Light Marine Engineering course in Falmouth, acquiring hands on experience as well as completing a number of course work projects. He received his award, presented on behalf of the Shipping Minister, from Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the MCA as part of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets Annual Court (MSSC). Tristan’s college – Blackpool and the Fylde College - and his training company – Princess Cruises, were both invited to attend the ceremony at Trinity House in London on October 11th. The award aims
Seacurus: Yachting Sector Seafarers Need Attention
more flag states to establish a process of compulsory registration for all providers of Seafarer Recruitment and Placement Service (SPRS) in the yachting sector. Thomas Brown, managing director of Seacurus, says, “More countries need to follow the initiatives shown by the likes of the UK MCA and France, with the latter making company registration compulsory for SRPSs in the yachting sector. The measures introduced by the French authorities, for example, provide positive clarification for all seafarers placed on board yachts by French yachting agencies. They stipulate that any Yacht Crew
MTN Appoints Whitehouse
. Whitehouse has captained multiple megayachts, most recently the M/Y Floridian, a 230 ft Oceanfast. In addition, he has managed complex, multimillion-dollar projects for yacht builds and refits, as well as marina and harbor construction. Whitehouse currently maintains both USCG 1600 and MCA 3000 GRT licenses, and is a graduate of State University College at Cortland, New York.
Marine Employers Urged to Prep for Regulatory Changes
of seafarers, so we are encouraging companies to be ahead of the game and to plan their training schedules accordingly. The worst case scenario is that workers may not be able to sail and carry out their duties but this can be avoided.” PTS is approved by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to deliver initial and updating training for all the required courses, and is also arranging an increasing number of courses to meet customer-specific requirements.
Minister Awards MCA’s Trainee of the Year
be presented by the U.K. Shipping Minister at a ceremony in London tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Jonty Turnbull of Blackpool and the Fylde College, who was serving on-board the Foreland Shipping-owned vessel, MV Hartland Point, is the 2014 winner of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Officer Trainee of the Year Award. The award will be presented at Haberdashers Hall, London, by the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Transport, who said, "I am delighted to attend the ceremony tomorrow. It is so important that we celebrate these achievements, not just for the individual
Videotel Enhances MCA-Approved Security Training Courses
personnel who are nominated as ship’s Security Officers and the Designated Security Duties Training Course is for personnel on board with Designated Security Duties. Both training courses contain brand new resources and training material, and have been approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel, explains: “The ever increasing threat to maritime security is behind the decision to enhance our security training for Ship Security Officers and the important issue of Designated Security Duties. The courses meet legislative requirements but will also help
UK Shipping Industry Broadly Welcomes Commons' Committee Report
the UK shipping industry which was undertaken after the government and industry entered into a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2013. The UK Chamber of Shipping and maritime unions have broadly welcomed the review's findings and recommendations, which focus on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and UK seafarer jobs. Doug Barrow, chief executive of Maritime London, welcomed the committee’s concerns on seafarer numbers, saying: “The foundations of a successful maritime services centre are its highly skilled staff, and many of the skills required for a maritime hub to offer
Boat Company Fined for Operating Unlicensed Vessels
of the Leeds to Liverpool canal at Skipton and are authorised to carry no more than 12 passengers. Carrying more than 12 passengers would require the vessels to be surveyed and issued with passenger certificates if they met the required safety standards. On 31 July 2013 a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyor saw ‘Leo’ being operated with 13 passengers on board and the company was spoken to. ‘Sam’ was filmed operating with 13 passengers on board on 2 August 2013 while under the control of Mr Clarke. These incidents occurred after the company had received several
