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UKMPA Vice-Chair Visits Maritime Skills Academy During Maritime Safety Week

Captain Jason Wiltshire CMMar, Vice-Chair of the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA), visited the Maritime Skills Academy (MSA) in Dover during Maritime Safety Week 2026, marking continued progress in the two organisations’ shared commitment to raising standards in pilot ladder safety.

The visit provided an opportunity to review developments since MSA’s Pilot Ladder Safety Training Course became the first in the UK to carry formal UKMPA endorsement, and to discuss how the partnership continues to evolve in line with best practice and operational requirements.

Alongside the endorsed course, UKMPA has developed an interactive pilot ladder poster designed to translate the requirements of current legislation and guidance into a clear, practical reference tool for pilots and vessel crews. Where previously practitioners had to navigate complex regulatory documents, the poster presents the same information in an accessible, visual format that supports confident, real-world application.

The two resources reflect a broader principle: that safety is most effective when it is led with purpose and communicated in ways that translate directly into knowledge and action at the point of transfer.

Captain Jason Wiltshire CMMar, UKMPA Vice-Chair, said: “Maritime Safety Week is a timely reminder that safety culture has to be led, and it has to keep moving forward. Our work – the endorsed Pilot Ladder Course and the interactive pilot ladder poster – is about making sure safety translates into practical steps and real knowledge, not just compliance on paper. That work continues.”

Mark Jaenicke, Operations Director at Maritime Skills Academy, commented: “Our partnership with UKMPA demonstrates what can be achieved when industry expertise and practical training come together. By making pilot ladder safety more accessible, understandable and actionable, we can help build safer working practices and reduce avoidable risks during pilot transfers.”

MSA has established itself as a leader in maritime safety training, bringing creative thinking to the design of courses and tools that raise the bar across the industry. Their approach – turning complex standards into training that sticks – is precisely what the sector needs more of. UKMPA is proud to work alongside a team that shares its commitment to reducing preventable incidents at sea.

Pilot transfer operations remain one of the highest-risk activities in the maritime sector, with global transfer incidents averaging around two pilot fatalities each year. The UKMPA and MSA’s ongoing collaboration – spanning training endorsement, practical resource development, and regular engagement – reflects a shared determination to reduce that toll.

Pictured: Captain Jason Wiltshire CMMar, UKMPA Vice-Chair, with Mark Jaenicke, Operations Director, Maritime Skills Academy, Dover (part of Viking Maritime Group).

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For press enquiries or further information, please contact:

United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA)

www.ukmpa.org

About the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA)

The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA) is the professional body representing approximately 500 licensed maritime pilots across the UK. Committed to the highest standards of safety, efficiency and professionalism in pilotage, the UKMPA advocates for its members and promotes best practice across the global maritime industry.

Maritime pilots play a critical role in guiding vessels safely through UK waters, protecting lives, property, and the marine environment, while ensuring the smooth movement of goods and passengers vital to the national economy.

For more information, visit www.ukmpa.org

About Maritime Skills Academy

Maritime Skills Academy (MSA), part of Viking Maritime Group, is a leading provider of maritime safety training, with facilities in the UK, Gibraltar, and Malta. MSA delivers a range of accredited and industry-endorsed courses designed to equip maritime professionals with the skills and knowledge required to operate safely at sea.

For more information, visit www.maritimeskillsacademy.com

Which Marine Course Should I Take?

If you’re considering a career at sea, or looking to work in the maritime industry, there will be marine courses that you will need to complete.

However, not all courses are mandatory, as it will still depend on the role you’re looking for.

At the Maritime Skills Academy, we offer a variety of marine courses that can open a number of doors.

Basic Safety Training (BST)

Starting with the most important marine course, by gaining your BST, you’ll be able to apply for a wide range of roles.

The BST course covers all five modules that make up the basic Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certification, including:

Fire prevention & Fire Fighting
Personal Survival Techniques
Elementary first Aid
Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Security Awareness

Which Jobs Require BST?

Holding the Basic STCW certification is a legal requirement for any mariner that works on board a commercial vessel longer than 24 metres, including ferries, tankers, cruise ships and more. In addition, the BST is a prerequisite for many more advanced courses that will help to develop your career at sea.

How often do I need to refresh my maritime training?

(updating courses as per Manila amendments)

Here are the refreshers that require updating every 5 years:

UPST (0.5 days theory and practical)
UFP&FF (1 day practical)
UAFF (1 day theory)
UPSCRB (0.5 or 1 day Theory and practical)
UFRB (0.5 day or 1 day theory and practical)
UPMC (medical care 3 days practical)

It is mandatory for all crew to retake the courses every five years. Refreshers are shorter than the full course you took the first time around. You also have the option to self-declare onboard training so you can take shortened updating courses.

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)

GWO Basic Safety Training (BST) is an internationally recognised health and safety certification for people working in the wind energy industry. The program covers five key safety topics, including:

Fire awareness
First aid
Manual handling
Sea survival
Working at heights

MSA has partnered with Checkmate (HART) to offer all modules of the GWO BST programme. At MSA Dover, we offer the GWO Sea Survival course, covering the topics:

Risks related to transfers
Transfer from vessel to dock and vessel to foundation
Emergency and safety procedures on installations, vessels, and WTG
Evacuation from WTG to the water by means of rescue device
Individual and collective survival techniques at sea

The one-day intensive course combines both theory and practical elements to ensure that students are prepared for any eventuality while working offshore.

What Jobs Require GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)?

The GWO BST is required for all workers in the offshore renewables industry, including:

Technicians
Engineers
Project Managers
Management Staff

Currently, the UK offshore renewables industry employs 40,000 workers, with that number expected to rise to 97,000 by 2030, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to work in this growing industry.

MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)

The MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) is a must for anyone looking to pursue a career as a marine engineer or ship operator aboard a commercial vessel under 24 meters in length.

Not only is the course recognised (and often required) by private captains and charter companies, but it is also a required step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA.

The AEC1 course covers a variety of topics, including:

Compression ignition engines
Two- and four-stroke operation cycles
Fuel systems
Cooling systems
Electrical systems
Lubrication technologies
Power transmission units

Over the five-day course, students will receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience with engines, allowing them to put their new knowledge to the test.

What Jobs Require MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1)?

Although the MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) isn’t legally required for work aboard commercial vessels under 24 meters in length, it is typically required (or preferred) by private captains and charter companies.

In addition, the AEC1 course is a necessary step toward obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency from the MCA. Obtaining the Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency along with the Basic STCW certification allows holders to serve as chief or first assistant engineer on Merchant Navy vessels of any size.

Launch Your Maritime Career at the Maritime Skills Academy

Unfortunately, there is no single answer to the question, “Which maritime course is best?”

The best marine course for you will depend on your career goals and the type of vessel you hope to work on.

Discover our MCA, GWO, and BMA approved courses that will help you launch your maritime career.

To learn more about our courses or to find out which one is right for you, feel free to browse our course catalogue or contact our booking team to discuss your requirements.

Why is Marine Pilot Ladder Transfer Training important?

Pilot ladder transfers, although safer than ever before, are the most perilous aspect of a pilot’s voyage. An International Maritime Pilots Association investigation (which spanned from the 16th to the 30th of May 2025) found that over 14% of the 5,200 participants reported substandard transfer arrangements.

Enforcing safety standards that ensure crew are prepared for pilot ladder transfers and for navigating pilot ladders in different conditions or scenarios, is as vital as ever.

What is a pilot ladder transfer?

Maritime pilotage is a service that guides larger vessels into a town’s port. Pilots are familiar with the port in question, and pilot boats are smaller vessels that can manoeuvre easily. Often required during bad weather or poor visibility, the role of a pilot can be high-risk.

Pilotage can, on occasion, require crew to board the larger vessel they are assigned to. This involves using either a gangway, a combination ladder, an accommodation ladder, or a pilot ladder. The most dangerous of these is a pilot ladder.

Marine pilot climbing ladder during practical marine pilot ladder transfer training

A pilot ladder consists of two strong ropes that hang from the deck or bulwark of a ship, slatted with hardwood spreaders (steps that prevent a ladder from twisting). Marine pilots are required to pull their pilot boats alongside the larger vessel and climb onto the ship whilst both are in motion.

What are the dangers crew face during pilot ladder transfers?

The greatest risk to crew members during a pilot ladder transfer is falling. Whether that be into the sea or back onto the deck of their pilot boat–Both of which can be fatal.

With marine pilots often being called out in poor weather, falling into the sea can risk them getting lost, swept under, or knocked out. Whether a fall is a result of violent seas or faulty, broken ladders, it is important to be trained in controlled falls and rescuing fallen casualties.

Another risk of pilot ladder transfers is crew getting stuck between the two vessels they are transferring to and from. It can be difficult for pilots to navigate steadily beside a larger vessel especially when both vessels are moving. This risk is in almost all cases fatal and is a hard circumstance to train crew for. At the Maritime Skills Academy, we teach crew how to safely abort a pilot ladder transfer, so once a hazard is assessed, evacuation or rectification is as safe as possible.

How can pilot ladder transfer training reduce the risks?

Training pilots to safely transfer between vessels, using standard methods and procedures, means crew are prepared to respond to hazardous situations. Although we cannot reduce the dangers marine pilots face, we can train them to respond safely and evacuate when necessary.

Our course prepares crew to identify and rectify damaged pilot ladders. This means pilots can take responsibility for their own safety if the vessel they are boarding has failed to do so.

We also train crew to assess pilotage risks. If a venture is too high-risk, a pilot may decide against a pilot ladder transfer. But without proper training, risk assessments may be unsatisfactory, and crew could be at risk of injury or casualty.

UKMPA endorsed pilot ladder transfer training

Our UKMPA-endorsed pilot ladder transfer safety training course focuses on proper rigging, inspection, and maintenance of pilot ladders, as well as risk management during transfer operations. Using both classroom and practical learning to teach pilots about real-world scenarios and showing them how to respond firsthand.