Maritime qualifications linked to MCA certification
A gathering of those who addressed the ‘Smoothing the Way’ seminar in London on Monday.
Seafarer Certification, vocational qualifications and widening career paths were the subject of a seminar entitled ‘Smoothing the Way’ held in London on Monday.
Over 90 delegates representing a wide cross section of the UK maritime sector attended the event, which was hosted by the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, Trinity House, whilst being sponsored by Nautilus International.
Sir Alan Massey, the new chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, gave a Keynote address, in which he highlighted the need for competent seafarers and the potential value of the new suite of qualifications linked to MCA certification requirements, which were being developed by the Maritime Skills Alliance
Captain Roger Towner, head of seafarer services and ship registration at the MCA explained how the current internationally agreed regulations applied to various categories of vessel and their use. He also indicated the routes that were available to enable seafarers to move from one category to another, taking account of existing qualifications and experience.
Philip Wells from the Maritime Skills Alliance then outlined the process that had been undertaken to develop a suite of qualifications that were relevant to the needs of the wider maritime sector. He said they were the result of widespread consultation and made use of the Qualifications and Credit Framework for England Wales and Northern Ireland, which was based on units and credits. These could be accumulated to achieve a qualification that was relevant to the needs of the learner and the chosen occupation. Further flexibilities were also possible by using the units to provide a common core supported by specialist options. A maritime apprenticeship using these new qualifications had also been put in place. The MCA had been closely involved in the development work to ensure that they reflected the regulatory requirements wherever appropriate.
During the afternoon a series of presentations was given describing various parts of the sector, the job, training and career opportunities that were available. These were provided by representatives of the Merchant Navy, ports, sea fishing, marine leisure, tugs, workboats, rivers and inland waterways, and the RNLI.
Captain Nigel Palmer, OBE, chairman of the Maritime Skills Alliance, who chaired the Seminar said, ‘I think it has been a very worthwhile event. Those who attended will now have a much better appreciation of how MCA certification and qualifications that are eligible for public funding are being brought together. The diversity of the sector has also been highlighted, showing the wide range of career opportunities that are available.’
Mark Brownrigg, director-general of the Chamber of Shipping and chairman of Sea Vision, the initiative that works to raise awareness of the maritime sector amongst young people, attended the event and commented, ‘This day was invaluable to bring together the many different organisations across the sector to coordinate activities and share knowledge. The wider maritime sector employs over 410,000 people and contributes £56bn to the UK economy on an annual basis. It offers unrivalled opportunities and excellent career prospects for motivated individuals. Sea Vision looks forward to working with all of the organisations involved to spread the word to young people nationwide.’
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