A reflection on the UK maritime sector Alan Massey former Chief Executive of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency
Some brief factoids… • Ships deliver 90% of world trade - UK 95% • Maritime brings UK £14.5bn;186,000 jobs • World maritime trade growing by 3.8%pa • …which would double volumes by 2036 • World tonnage up 3.3% in 2017 to 1.2bn • 90% of shipbuilding in China, Japan, RoK • Dry cargo growing briskly – ‘wet’ less so • Container shipping profited $7bn in 2017 • 3 Alliances = 93% capacity on E-W routes
Some global trends…. • Freight rates are still volatile (and low) • Ships remain in oversupply • Ports pressurised to adapt and compete • Welfare better (MLC, ILO 188), but patchy • Autonomy & efficiency may risk sea jobs • Environment brings huge challenges • Regulation lags technology & innovation… • ..yet safety standards generally improving
Seafarers – 2017 statistics • 1.65m seafarers globally • 23,670 active UK seafarers (1.43%):stable • (excl. RN (25k), fishing (12k), workboats) • 9,830 ratings (up 11% from 2016) • 10,600 officers, 1,830 cadets, 1,500 uncert • 14,480 UK holding MCA certificates (all) • 14,300 non-UK hold MCA CoCs • 9,250 MCA CECs held (13,000 in 2009)
What is the MCA for? • Runs UK ship & seafarer register • Promotes, regulates and enforces maritime safety in UK waters • Deals with maritime emergencies, including pollution
MCA: the 2010 to- do list… • Modernise HM Coastguard • Take over all UK airborne SAR • Transform survey and inspection functions • Double the tonnage on the UK Flag • Improve stakeholder relationships • A safer and healthier maritime workforce
Her Majesty’s Coastguard
HMCG Incidents and Volunteer Callouts
Rescue Coordination then (2012) MRCC Shetland 24*7 (21) 19 MRCCs, each covering a specific area MRCC Stornoway 24*7 (25) Limited resilience Aberdeen MRCC 24*7 between ’paired’ MRCCs (31) MRCC Forth 24*7 (operational picture and (20) MRCC 24*7 Clyde (31) comms). MRCC Belfast 24*7 Humber But beyond pairings, (23) MRCC 24*7 (29) Liverpool Holyhead connectivity and support MRCC MRCC 24*7 24*7 (23) (23) Yarmouth were extremely limited MRCC 24*7 (25) Thames MRCC Swansea 24*7 MRCC (23) 24*7 MRCC Milford Haven 24*7 (25) London (28) 6 MRCC 24*7 Portland (34) MRCC Dover 24*7 Brixham MRCC (29) 24*7 Falmouth (25) MRCC MRCC Solent 24*7 24*7 (27) (23)
Drivers for Change • 1970s structure and organisation • Ageing ICT systems and workforce • Inefficient use of manpower • Limited resilience (only between ‘paired’ stations) • Very limited capability to distribute workload • Fragmented areas of responsibility • No common recognised UK operational picture • Inadequate arrangements for senior incident C2 • Poor exploitation of information across Govt agencies
This is the event workload at a different MRCC, with the same staffing, skills and resources, for the same year
Rescue Coordination – now National Maritime Ops MRSC 24*7 Shetland (23) Centre (NMOC): Fareham Coastguard Ops Centres (CGOCs): Shetland, Stornoway MRSC 24*7 (23) Aberdeen, Humber, Dover, MRSC Aberdeen 24*7 (23) Falmouth, Milford, Holyhead, Belfast, Stornoway and London – Belfast MRSC 24*7 (23) Humber one single network MRSC 24*7 (23) MRSC Dual-system resilience 24*7 (23) Holyhead Back-up site for NMOC at MRSC Milford Haven 24*7 (23) London Dover 6 (28) MRSC MOC 24*7 24*7 Dover (96) MRSC Falmouth 24*7 (23)
Single Presentation All Resources available to all Operators CGOC CGOC CGOC CGOC CGOC CGOC CGOC NMOC CGOC CGOC
HMCG Helicopter Tasks
% Helicopter Tasks
Coastguard Functions Yes No Search and Rescue Customs Pollution Response Border Control Vessel Traffic Management Fisheries Control Maritime Safety Law Enforcement Accident and Disaster Response Maritime Security
UK Ship Register • c.1,340 Large Merchant Ships, 16.3m GT • 12 th largest fleet in World, 5 th in Europe • 5,750 Fishing Vessels • 65,000 Other Small Vessels • 8,000 UK Seafarer Certificates pa • 5,000 Foreign Seafarer Certificates pa • MCA leads the ‘Red Ensign Group’ at IMO
UK Ship Register 2001-18
Why Flag with the UK? • High quality standards • Prestige and reputation • Depth of expertise (DfT and MCA) • Government backup • Royal Navy protection • Improving service • = keeps you trading
The largest tonnage-contributing owner on the UK flag is Frenc
Don’t knock it!....
An estimated 19,000 UK seafarers work in the large yacht industry
Why not? • Cost (Tax, NI, Equality Act, Training oblig) • Eligibility • Gold-plating of regulations • Slow, inflexible, unresponsive service • Inconsistency of standards and decisions • Political risk • = not an easy ride • ...and then add Brexit
UK PCZ
AIS Data by permission of the UK MCA 2 weeks AIS traffic 6 th to 20 th Feb 2011
MSC FLAMINIA – Jul 2012 (51 days)
UK Merchant and Fishing Safety 2011-2017
Fishing vessel losses 2010-2017
CREW PROVISIONS ROOM – JUST A FEW ROTTEN CABBAGES
RESCUE BOAT MOUNTING BRACKET SEVERELY CORRODED AND FRACTURED. RENDERING THE RESCUE BOAT USELESS
Diving incidents/deaths
Beachy Head
Animal Rescues
So, in a nutshell... • The UK’s maritime interests remain huge • Trade is increasing: the seas are busier, more congested, and potentially riskier • Accidents happen; poor behaviours persist; the safety picture is unbalanced • The environment will drive major change • Seafarers deserve attention and a fair deal • Good regulation and stewardship of the seas & shipping are more vital than ever
New garden sheds everywhere, in Worthing…
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