Author: MSAteam

This week, over 150 KS2 pupils, aged 10 and 11 years old, from local Dover schools visited the Maritime Skills Academy in Whitfield, as part of Maritime UK Week.

• Pupils watched a selection of Water Safety demonstrations
• Teachers from the schools took part in pool-based sessions
• Children discussed Maritime career options

Yesterday (Wednesday 12^th October) 100 children from Aycliffe, River and Temple Ewell Primary schools visited the MSA facilities (part of the Viking Maritime Group) to watch demonstrations by the on-site Trainers, of elements from the Personal Survival Training course.

On Friday 14^th October, the second and final Open Day, the facilities will also host pupils from Lydden, Guston and Barton Primary schools.

As part of Maritime UK week, the business reached out to local schools to invite them to the Open Days to raise awareness of water safety and maritime careers. The awareness week is an important event in the maritime calendar and one that was essential that the business played a part in, to raise awareness of water safety, specifically being a coastal town, and to talk about young people about careers at sea.

Matthew Jaenicke, Group MD of the Viking Maritime Group said “Maritime UK week really highlights the importance of the Industry. It is responsible for facilitating 95% of the UK’s global trade, is an important part of everyone’s lives and one at Viking that we’re proud to have been part of for over 30 years.

The training demonstrations that the children watched, and that their teachers also took part in, is a mandatory course for all seafarers to undertake before they go to sea – so it really does provide a solid basis for water survival techniques.

“We’re also fortunate at Viking that we have a knowledgeable team of staff, some that have experience at sea in different positions, from Cadets to Captains, who also spoke with the pupils about why the training was so important and what exciting opportunities careers at sea can offer.

“It was also wonderful to be able to open our training pool to the schools for these days and to witness the excitement and engagement from the pupils – the centre really came to life. I’m sure the children took away some key learnings from the session and who knows, some may embark on a career at sea!”

Mrs Angela Matthews, Head Teacher of Temple Ewell CofE Primary School said “The opportunity to visit the MSA was a wonderful chance for our Year 5 and 6 pupils to visit a local business and learn some vital, life-long skills that could essentially help save lives. It supports our strong sports curriculum, and this visit has enriched that learning. We are very aware of where the children live, and these life-saving skills in open water are vital.

“A lot of our children have relatives that also work in the maritime industry, for local ferry and cruise companies, and encouraging them to also think about their career options is wonderfully aspirational. Our links with our local community as a small village school is also an important aspect of our curriculum offer and one that we will continue to focus on and maintain.”

The training course that the pupils watched included:

• The importance of a life jacket
• Life raft entry & casualty rescue
• How to get casualty safely into a raft
• Righting a raft
• Lifebuoy and rescue line demonstrations
• Ship alarm signals
• And a final exercise scenario accompanied by Thunder, Lightning, and rain.

For more information on Maritime UK week please see www.maritimeuk.org/week, or watch the full video on our YouTube Channel.

Marella Cruises Engine Cadets complete 5-day Engine Resource Management 1 (ERM1) Course

Congratulations to Michael Stephens (Phase 3, SPD Engine Cadet, CGC, Marella Cruises) and Connor Stamp (Phase 1, Grad Engine Cadet, STC, Marella Cruises), both Marella Cruises Engine Cadets that have recently completed their 5-day Engine Resource Management 1 course (ERM1) at our MSA centre in Portsmouth.

This course promotes best practice in resource management by using all available human, informational and equipment resources toward the goal of safe and efficient operations, and to enhance and encourage a systematic approach to the management of engine room systems and operations through practice.

This course is usually only offered to qualified Engine Officers, so it was a real treat for the cadets to gain this qualification so early on in their maritime careers. 

A big thank you to Marella Cruises and COLUMBIA Cruise Services for coordinating this fantastic opportunity.

If you are interested in any of our simulation courses, please visit our simulation course page here.

 

Viking Maritime Group (VMG) is pleased to announce that Colin McMurray has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Group, bringing with him a wealth of experience from an extensive career in the Marine Industry.

Mr McMurray is currently the Director of Commercialisation and Skills at Forth Valley College in Central Scotland.

His career began with BP Shipping where he started as a Deck Cadet with Chiltern Maritime. After working on Fast Ferries as Chief Officer and Fleet Training Officer he moved ashore, joining Clyde Marine Training where he subsequently became Managing Director in 2008 after a successful MBO.

The company rapidly expanded to include several new business areas and was acquired by Northern Marine Group, part of Stena AB in 2016. Colin remained Director of the Clyde Group and continued to expand the various strands of the business, including starting and developing Clyde Training Solutions. Colin then progressed to Stream Marine Training as Group Managing Director where he successfully completed a rapid change of business direction and implemented new process systems.

Originally on the board of Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, involved in the merger and shadow boards of City of Glasgow College and post-merger, Colin remained on the board for a further 8 years, during which time he was involved in the £224m New Campus Project and Chaired the Audit Committee.

Colin is also a Fellow of IMarEST and a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Past President of the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association, Former Trustee for the Sailor’s Society and Glasgow Humane Society, and past Chair of the International Association of Maritime Institutions. He has been a member of the MNTB Main Board since 2013 and most recently joined the Zero Emission Skills for Maritime Operations and Vessels Steering group.

Of his appointment he said “I am delighted to join the board of Viking Maritime Group, a company I have admired for the tremendous growth, creativity and innovation over the years. As the first former cadet to be on the Board I’ve actually gone full circle as I started my career as BP Shipping Cadet with Chiltern Maritime. VMG has an enviable heritage in the industry and an experienced, respected team of which I’m incredibly proud to now be a part of.”

Chairman & Founder at Viking Maritime Group, Dieter Jaenicke, said “Colin’s expertise in Cadet Management and wider Maritime Training will increase our current offerings to clients, and candidates substantially. Other areas of the business will also benefit from Colin’s many years within the marine industry.”

Group Managing Director, Matthew Jaenicke said “Having worked in the same industry alongside Colin for more than 15 years, I am incredibly proud that we now have the opportunity to combine our knowledge and resources to synergise, organise and expand our successful business on all fronts. Colin comes with a wealth of expertise and contacts that we all look forward to embracing.”

Date of publication: July 2022