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On Tuesday 18th September, Carla Rockson and Joan Pickering were invited to give a presentation to the Royal Navy’s Learning and Development Operations Team. This Team promote learning and development opportunities to serving personnel whilst on duty by visiting ships and overseas locations. Our GCSEs and A Level offer are very popular and promoted well by the Education Officers, who are impressed by the fact that our learner is given quality academic and pastoral support, are heavily subsidised and that our exam results are excellent. They were impressed with the compact design of our latest 2018/19 brochure making it easier for them to take out to ships and is now being distributed to RN Learning and Development Centres around the country.

On Sunday 9th September, Carla Rockson and Joan Pickering attended the annual Merchant Navy commemorative service which was held in Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hill, London. The service was well attended by many representing all aspects of seafaring to give thanks for those who gave themselves in the service of our nation at sea. This year we were also remembering the 100th anniversary of the ending of the Great War and the contribution made towards that end by the men and women of Merchant Service and Fishing Fleets. Wreaths were laid to pay respects to those who had lost their lives at sea and recognition was given to those who serve today. The service was led by The Revd Jeremy Hellier, BD, AKC, CF and the guest of honour was The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Tony Radakin CB. A message from the Prime Minister was read out the MP Jim Fitzpatrick. The Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth played which was enjoyed by all and attracted local tourists. Carla Rockson and Joan Pickering paid their respects by laying a wreath on behalf of Marine Society & Sea Cadets.

Merchant Navy Day serves as a timely reminder of the importance of seafarers and the valuable role they provide, from coastguards and cruise liners to those ensuring that huge quantities of goods move safely to and from our island nation. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those who work at sea, and wish all those in the Merchant Navy a safe and productive year ahead.

Our dedicated team here at Marine Society works to ensure those working in the Merchant Navy can further their education and have access to onboard libraries improving knowledge, wellbeing and social relations at sea.

For 262 years we have been supporting all seafarers to get ahead in their careers. Whether supporting them to study a range of formal qualifications - often at long distance - via our Ofsted-certified Marine Society College or providing them with books and libraries at sea. We're now also able to offer an online bookshop which can provide seafarers across the world with books and we have developed a free app to enable seafarers to learn online.  

"If it hadn't been for the Marine Society's help I wouldn't have been wearing the uniform shown in the photo back in 1965. Without their help I would not have been able to fulfil my marine engineering ambitions to become chief engineer. Their help was also invaluable in my gaining higher academic qualifications and later to become a marine surveyor and consultant. As a thank you, I have bequeathed a cash gift to the Society in my will. I hope others will do the same."

Mike Wall, BSc, MSc, FIMarEST, CMarTech, QDR.

Our summer 2019 I/GCSE and A-Level results saw some great results.

Our understanding of the seafarer’s way of life and our unique ability to enter students for I/GCSE/A level examinations wherever they find themselves at exam time shows our commitment to making sure they receive the very best support. This year’s results at I/GCSE and A-Level demonstrate just how effective that support is.

Marine Society’s I/GCSE/A-Level courses offer an unmatched level of services with tutor support.

60% of our students sitting exams were Royal Navy/Royal Marines serving personnel, 20% were spouses of Royal Navy personnel and the remaining 20% serve with the RFA/Merchant Navy.

We ensured our learners did not muss exams by arranging for them to be sat on board ships or on RN/RM establishments around the UK or overseas.

How we help you to be where you want to be

- 100% of learners achieved passes at A-Level, with 33% achieving A*- C grades.

- 100% of learners achieved passes at GCSE, with 100% achieving A*- C grades.

No organisation has more experience in delivering learning at sea. We understand the difficulties seafarers face when studying at sea, and we know how important the quality of learning is to them.

“We are proud of the support and expertise we are able to offer seafarers to help them study and achieve qualifications in challenging circumstances. The resources coupled with the support and encourgaement our learners recieve, ensures they have the best chance to succeed.”

Carla Rockson
Head of Seafarer Education

Marine Society is the first in learning and professional development for seafarers, helping them to learn new skills, gain accredited qualifications and realise their full potential.

Marine Society is delighted to bring its crew libraries to new global customer Technip FMC, an international leader in oil and gas projects technologies, systems and services. Technip FMC operate 18 vessels that specialise in subsea pipelay and subsea construction.

The first ship 'Global 1201' (pictured) took delivery of a 100 piece paperback library from Marine Society in January 2018.