RMT WELCOMES TRAINING FOR SEAFARERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2013 :: RMTnews 15 A new wave of apprentices has arrived in South Tyneside as efforts continue to bolster the number of British seafarers. RMT has been attempting to reverse the decline in the number of homegrown seafarers employed on vessels sailing through UK waters by persuading marine companies to take on British workers. And the fruits of those efforts were seen recently when 13 new apprentices arrived to start their training at South Shields Marine College. The young men, the majority from Scotland, have been taken on by the Scottish-based ferry operator Cal Mac and Bibby Ship Management. They will spend the next few weeks carrying out basic seafaring training at the borough college, before heading off to sea. The Cal Mac apprenticeships were much sought-after with the successful 10 applicants emerging from more than 1,000 applications. At a get-together at the Marine Safety Training Centre in South Shields, the students, aged 16 to 24, met RMT national secretary Steve Todd. “A total of 1,000 applied for the Cal Mac apprenticeships and that is a figure which belies the myth that people don’t want to go to sea. “If there is a career available, people will say yes to it and they are being offered a golden opportunity of a life at sea. “If we don’t do the training, the ratings will disappear and the age profile of ratings in the UK is in their mid-fifties. That’s a real problem we need to address,” he said. The students will spend two years before attaining their able seafarer certificate and will also have the opportunity to go forward to officer training. RMT has backed new conversion courses for members working on Isle of Man Steam Packet services to allow them to progress in the industry. RMT national secretary Steve Todd made successful approaches to the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency and others regarding a much needed review of sea time qualification which effectively hindered the progress of UK/Manx trainees. "As a result of our representations, a significant reduction of qualifying sea time has been agreed, taking into account previous sea time. “Other administrations have a more relaxed approach and there is a danger that we end up with seafarers from other nations working on UK/Manx vessels with ‘certificates of convenience’,” he said.. RMT regional organiser Ken Usher welcomed this much needed investment in training for the future and gave all credit to the company for funding the initiative. “We now see that rating numbers have dropped so low that companies are taking positive action to meet their service requirements. “Both the UK and Manx governments need to ensure that more funding is available for training which is for the benefit of our Island nation,” he said. Three RMT members are all converting from the On Board Catering Department to Deck including Dave Punton who is already working as EDH. Colleagues Mike Cotino and Jamie Taylor are both working towards their EDH and qualifying sea time. These members have undertaken a mix of training which includes practical on- board training together with attendance at North West Kent college in Gravesend for practical elements of the course in relation to STCW Sea Survival, Lifeboat and Fire prevention and firefighting. The on board training elements have been overseen and supervised by CPO Deck Bosun Peter Jones, who is also the Port Committee chairman. His wealth of experience and knowledge gained over 45 years at sea and a member of the NUS/RMT has been passed on to colleagues. "These men are the first to undergo this conversion course and I have every confidence that the skills they have gained will develop them into first class AB's for the future. "I am proud to have been able to pass on my experience, safe in the knowledge that the training given will be used to great effect. “We need to bring more and more young people through to protect our industry, skills and maritime status" he added. Isle Of Man Steam Packet human resource director Ethel Docherty recognised the need for additional staff that were fully trained to the required standards. “This is a sound investment for the future of the company and the Industry and I'm proud of the guys and the support that we have received from the union," she said. RMT WELCOMES TRAINING FOR SEAFARERS ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET TRAINING SUCCESS