Clyde Marine Training is a Northern Marine Group subsidiary and the UK’s largest maritime training provider, recruiting approximately 50% of the annual Trainee Officer intake for the British Merchant Navy.

Ship owners, major marine colleges, trade bodies including the UK Chamber of Shipping, and Merchant Navy Training Board, and industry regulator the MCA were represented at the event which gave an update on CMT Company business and provided a platform for discussion on wider industry themes such as the future of merchant navy training and the recently published Maritime Skills Commission report on ‘Seafarer Cadet Training’.

The desire of all attending parties to work together to produce a pathway and training programme that benefited both the cadets and the industry was evident from the presentations given.

Thomas Campbell, Clyde Marine Training General Manager, commented on the event: “It was fantastic to be joined by associates from across the industry, and appreciate again the real benefit of having so many impassioned stakeholders together again to reflect and debate on the issues facing our industry.

“The vital role that seafarers fulfilled as key workers to ensure the flow of worldwide trade continued during a global pandemic shows just how important our role in training the next generation of seafarers really is, and how we must work together to ensure this training meets the requirements of modern and future shipping.”

Conference delegates also received presentations from Kathryn Neilson, Director at Merchant Navy Training Board and Tim Springett, Policy Director, at the UK Chamber of Shipping.

Laurence Brady of the Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation introduced the Buoyed Up charity which promotes the world of shipping to underprivileged school pupils, and from John Burden of ISCA Wellbeing spoke of the importance of mental health training for those working at sea.

Angus Ferguson of OnBoard Maritime also presented the future of Digital Learning by speaking about how their platform is enabling better access to teaching and materials wherever you are.

And to complete the conference, Cadets took part in the ever-popular Q&A session giving an insight and much-welcomed personal feedback to delegates on their training experience.

In the evening following, conference delegates attended the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association (SSBA) 106th Annual Dinner at the same location as guests of Clyde Marine Training, a fitting end to the day with attendees and companies coming together to support for a fantastic cause.

Its diverse international client base is made up of leading ship owners and operators.

Philip Fullerton, Managing Director, Northern Marine Group also attended the event and spent time interacting with both clients and cadets.

Philip said: "It was very encouraging to meet CMT clients, stakeholders and Cadets at the conference and discussed the shared values and importance that we all place on Cadet training which is vital for the industry."

ENDS

Pic: Thomas Campbell, General Manager with CMT cadets.