UK seafarers national awareness campaign launched ‣ WorldCargo News

An industry representative body, commercial stakeholders and training institutes have launched a concerted awareness campaign to revitalise the traditional merchant navy career path.

A year long, Careers at Sea National Awareness Campaign has been launched by the UK Merchant Navy Training Board. The high profile campaign is designed to raise awareness of the shipping Industry, and the career opportunities available. The UK Chamber of Shipping, which lobbies for the commercial interests of the industry, is supporting the initiative, which will see promotions launched around the country.

The campaign was launched today (Thursday 24 October) at the Merchant Navy Training Board seminar in Glasgow, Scotland. The launch event includes a revamped Careers at Sea website and an advertising campaign. According to the organisers, the campaign aims to overcome ‘sea blindness’, where those with the skillsets and interests to pursue a career in shipping are not aware of the opportunities available.

Not enough new entrants

Glasgow is an appropriate venue for this maritime initiative. The historic quays on the city’s River Clyde famously once dispatched cargo vessels to every continent in the world, every day of the year. The river is still an important maritime route, with the downstream Greenock container terminal very much an active part of British commerce. The city has an active shipbuilding industry, with contracts underway at yards for civil and military vessels.

Industry analysts say that shipping supports 650,000 jobs in the UK. 61,000 of those posts are in the industry directly. “Shipping is central to economic growth and our social wellbeing,” says the Chamber of Shipping. However, figures from the Chamber highlight the need to raise interest in the profession. The number of new entrants to the industry falls far short of what is required. In 2023, around 600 cadets joined the sector, but at least 2000 are needed annually to ensure the UK has an adequate supply of homegrown seafaring talent.

Sea blindness

“A career in shipping, whether at sea or on shore, is an incredibly rewarding choice,” said Kathryn Neilson, Director of the Merchant Navy Training Board. “Those that enter the industry often spend their entire career in shipping. There are significant opportunities to transition from an at-sea to an on-shore role and to enter the industry at a junior level, and climb to be a senior executive.

Perception of the industry is often only informed by media, highlighting conflict and disputes. Kathryn Neilson says that ‘sea blindness’ is a significant barrier, with many individuals who would thrive in the industry unaware of the opportunities it presents. “Our campaign aims to change that by promoting the importance of the industry to the wider public, in locations away from traditional maritime areas to show that a career in shipping can be for everyone.”

Exceptional opportunities and see the world

From today, commuters at major railway stations around the UK will be met with marketing posters, telling them there is always “more to sea” than the limited horizons of their office desks. It’s a message the UK government is behind. “The shipping industry is vital for the UK economy, so it’s great to see campaigns like this promoting the fantastic opportunities that a life at sea offers,” said an enthusiastic Mike Kane, the Maritime Minister, whose parliamentary constituency borders on the Salford Docks of the Manchester Ship Canal. “We need more people to take up a career in maritime, which is why the Government contributes towards training costs and is modernising training for seafarers.”

The UK Chamber of Shipping is collaborating with the Maritime Educational Foundation to deliver the project. “The Chamber is delighted to be supporting the Merchant Navy Training Board’s National Awareness Campaign. said the Chamber’s CEO, Rhett Hatcher, at the launch. Rhett has a twenty-year career at sea behind him, including a military ship command. “I know the exceptional opportunities a career at sea presents, from travelling the world and experiencing different cultures to working with extremely talented and dedicated people. It also provides you the opportunity to gain unique skills and experiences, which might also help you transition into equally rewarding shore-based roles,” he said The campaign is also online at careersatsea.org.