Latest News

Marine Society are proud to announce that our Coming Ashore programme reached its 200^th applicant this month. This has been achieved in under a year since the programme’s launch back in February 2020.

From its original inception back in 2016, Coming Ashore has developed into a flourishing multifaceted programme of support that is helping make a clear path for seafarers transitioning to a shoreside role.

This milestone is a landmark for the programme and supports the fact that many seafarers – especially the millennial generation- now come ashore much earlier than their predecessors, with long careers at sea becoming less common.

Our mentoring programme is starting to build fruitful relationships between our Coming Ashore mentors and their respective mentees with feedback from both groups being very positive.

The decision to commit to the programme is a huge one for our mentees. Paul Naranjo-Shepherd – a programme mentor – appropriately describes the transition ashore as ‘a leap into the dark for most of us’. And it truly is.

Paul highlights the fact that when he was looking to move ashore, he felt like ‘there were jobs and opportunities out there but you have no access to them, nor much of an idea where or what they are.’

The founder of Whitehorse Maritime believes we may have found a solution to the issue:

“The Marine Society's Coming Ashore program solves this problem by connecting those coming ashore to those who have already made the transition. That way, those coming ashore have the support, contacts and mentoring necessary to make their move ashore a great success"

Many seafarers find the adjustment very challenging initially, which is why, with the generous support of MEF and the ITF Seafarers Trust, we have been able to develop this programme and want to help as many seafarers as possible.

In these unprecedented times, you may be considering your job prospects more than ever in order to secure a stable career. If this is you, we encourage you to visit www.marine-society.org/coming-ashore to find out everything you need to know about the programme and whether it would fit your needs.

The Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC) has launched the first of a number of high quality placements for young people aged 18 to 24 who find themselves unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

MSSC has already taken on five trainee boat instructors at its’ boat stations around Britain – Crosby in Merseyside, Royal Docks in London and Port Edgar in South Queensferry, Scotland – as part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme to give valuable work experience to young people.

“Our charity is committed to youth development and we are delighted to support Kickstart to help young adults to experience our amazing boating facilities and learn new skills as a trainee boating instructor,” said MSSC’s Director of Maritime Training and Development, Darrell Bate. “We’ve been really impressed with the calibre of applicants so far. We hope they will be inspired to remain with us as sessional instructors or progress onto one of our apprenticeships.”

The government’s Kickstart Scheme is a 6 month paid job placement with a local employer. It provides opportunities for young people who are claiming Universal Credit, and are at risk of long term unemployment, to gain experience of working in some of Britain’s most exciting companies.

If you are interested in becoming a ‘kickstarter’ with MSSC, get in touch with your Work Coach, local Jobcentre Plus or visit https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/kickstart/

It’s that time of year again…

The Slater Scholarship application deadline is fast approaching with no submissions for this intake being accepted beyond 5pm on 23^rd April.

These ‘gold standard’ scholarships – administered by the Marine Society on behalf of Nautilus International – offer Merchant Navy seafarers up to £18,500 towards gaining their first officer of the watch qualification or STCW Certification.

Slater Scholarships are available for two years from the date of award and must be started within a year of being awarded. The Fund is available for any experienced seafarer aged 21 and over and permanently residing in the UK.

In order to be eligible, you must have completed ALL the seagoing service required for the certificate you are aiming for.

Successful applicants will be notified by 7th June 2021.

Applications received after this closing date will be given priority for the next intake as below.

Application submission deadline is 12th November 2021.

Successful applicants notified by 10th January 2022.

In these unprecedented times why not take the opportunity to upgrade your certification to the next level and broaden your employment prospects.

We encourage you to visit our Slater Scholarship page for full details on how to apply.

If you are ready to apply now, you can download this application form and return it to us.

A new partnership for the provision of maritime apprenticeships has been unveiled by the Marine Society and SeaRegs Training Ltd.

Following the start of National Apprentice Week (8 February 2021), the two organisations have announced high quality training partnership for Boatmaster, Workboat Crewmember and Port Operative apprenticeships across the country, including on the River Thames.

The partnership has strong employer and industry connections around the country and is looking to expand numbers and geographical coverage, as demand returns, post COVID-19

Established over 250 years ago, the Marine Society is Britain’s oldest maritime charity, serving seafarers through training and recently became an approved apprenticeship training provider. The charity also operates the Sea Cadet units nationally, with over 400 stations and 15,000 young people involved annually.

SeaRegs Training is an Independent training provider, delivering MCA, STCW, SQA and RYA professional courses and has a solid background in providing maritime apprenticeships. They have a proven track record of providing well-regarded training courses for the code and class vessel sector and training in ports.

Training is currently based out of fully-equipped facilities at Royal Docks Sea Cadet Boat Station in London and SeaRegs’ Training base and vessels at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth, with regular use of employer facilities, such as the Port of London Authority in Gravesend.

Darrell Bate, Director of Maritime Training and Development at the Marine Society, says; “We are delighted to have secured this partnership to grow maritime careers and training at grassroots and supply high quality apprentices to this vital sector.”

Simon Jinks, Managing Director at Sea Regs adds; ‘We are thrilled to partner with a long-standing maritime organisation, who share our passion for high standards of training and helping budding and existing seafarers in their careers afloat or in the maritime industry’.

The Marine Society and SeaRegs are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week in association with Maritime UK and the Maritime Skills Alliance.

Enquiries to learning@ms-sc.org

www.searegs.co.uk

Marine Society has successfully bid to the Maritime Skills Commission for a project to develop a new accredited qualification that introduces school and college leavers to the wide range of shore based roles in maritime.

Project lead, Darrell Bate and curriculum consultant James Bullar plan to revise the existing Open Awards Level 3 Certificate in Maritime Studies to reach a new audience of school leavers for young adults and attract them into the maritime sector.  A steering group comprising shipping firm Casper Shipping, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and Stockton Riverside College has been formed to guide the process through to completion in April 2021. 

The qualification will include brand new modules covering; maritime trade, port operations and commercial shipping. These will sit alongside existing modules such as navigation, boat handling, marine stability and running a maritime business, allowing students to follow a ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ side maritime pathway. First teaching is expected in September 2021 at Stockton Riverside before wider rollout to the post 16 sector.

The Maritime Commission is a representative body of maritime professionals and leaders tasked by the Department for Transport to implement the key themes of the Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy. Details of their work and this project can be found HERE