Marine Training Manager Martin Gough (second right) takes the current group of ABP marine apprentices through the intricacies of splicing ropes (image courtesy of ABP/David Lee Photography
Associated British Ports (ABP) has launched its search for the next generation of marine apprentices during 2015’s National Apprenticeship Week.
The Marine Operations Apprenticeship scheme, which is the only one of its kind in the country, it is based around the National Occupational Standards for Port Operations and is designed to give those interested in working in a marine environment the opportunity to learn about shipping and port operations, while working for the UK’s leading port operator.
The scheme was developed by ABP Marine Training Manager Martin Gough in 2012 when he identified a need to bring young people into the industry and train them to a high standard.
“It’s essential that we have robust succession planning in place and part of that process means we need very high-calibre young people coming into the business to ensure it continues to operate to the highest marine standards, ” he said.
“The course is designed to give hands-on training in all aspects of our port’s marine operations and offers exciting career opportunities, which can lead to the highest levels within the operational teams that control shipping movements at ABP’s 21 ports.”
The company currently employs 10 marine apprentices, five of which were appointed in 2012 and are now embarking on the Professional Diploma in Shipping and Maritime Studies, a bespoke award created especially for the ABP Marine Operations Apprenticeship. The remaining five recruits were appointed last year and are settling into their new roles.
Thanks to the success of the original Marine Apprenticeship scheme, ABP is also launching a Marine Pilotage Apprenticeship.
Martin Gough continued: “As the supply of experienced mariners wanting to come ashore to train as pilots is decreasing we’ve decided to extend our Marine Operations apprenticeship scheme to create a Marine Pilotage Apprenticeship.
“The Marine Pilotage Apprenticeship will take a total of five years to complete, being an additional two years on top of the first three years of the Marine Operations Apprenticeship.
“The training and authorisation procedures will be consistent with the Marine Pilotage National Occupational Standards, meet the Marine Pilotage parts of the Port Marine Safety Code Guide to Good Practice and they’ll also be consistent with the principles of IMO Resolution A960″.
“The training for the Marine Operations Apprenticeship is based at the Humber ports however, the entire second year of the apprenticeship is spent at South Tyneside Nautical college to gain an SQA approved Professional Diploma in Shipping & Maritime Studies. The Pilotage apprenticeship scheme will be based in our South Wales ports.
If you’d like to find out more about ABP’s Marine Apprenticeship and Marine Pilotage Apprenticeship schemes the company will be hosting a number of presentations across the UK:
- Hull – Riverside House, King George Dock, Hull, Tuesday 24th March 1500hrs & 1800hrs
- Immingham – The Seafarers’ Centre, Immingham Dock, Thursday 26th March 1500hrs & 1800hrs
- Cardiff – Queen Alexandra House, Cardiff Dock Offices, Monday 13th April 1500hrs & 1800hrs
- Kendal – Garden Room, Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Wednesday 15th April 1500hrs & 1800hrs
Call 01472 359181 to book your place.
ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with 21 ports and other transport related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.
Around one quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade passes through ABP’s Statutory Harbour Areas. ABP contributes £5.6 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 84, 000 jobs. Our current investment programme promises to deliver an extra £1.75 billion for the economy every year.
ABP…
- · Handled over 1.5 million vehicles in 2013.
- · Generates around one quarter of the UK’s rail freight
- · Has 1.4 million square metres of covered storage
- · Has 1000 hectares of open storage
- · Handled 119m tonnes of cargo in 2013
- · Owns 5000 hectares of port estate
- · Has 87km of quay
Over the next five years, ABP is investing over £650 million in a wide range of major projects across the group.
ABP Humber
The four ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole handle more than 65 million tonnes of cargo between them each year.
Grimsby and Immingham form the UK’s busiest trading gateway and move around 54 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
£75 million is currently being invested in the biomass handling terminal in Immingham, in a Humber-wide agreement with Drax Power Ltd that has seen £25 million invested in a biomass handling facility in Hull. The Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal will handle sustainable biomass shipments and will create over 100 permanent jobs once complete. The construction phase has also created 100 employment opportunities.
The Port of Hull handles 10 million tonnes of cargo per annum and is the is the focal point for the development of the UK’s largest offshore wind turbine construction, assembly, and service facility, which will be located on the Port’s Alexandra Dock. This new facility, coupled with a new rotor blade manufacturing base near Paull to the east of the port estate, represents a £310 million investment and will create up to 1000 direct jobs.
The Grimsby River Terminal represents an investment of £26 million and allows large car-carrying ships to berth outside the Port’s lock system. This development confirms the Port’s position as the UK’s leading automotive handling facility.
More than the equivalent of 1million teus (twenty foot equivalent unit) of unitised trade is shipped through ABP Humber ports.
Ro-ro and container traffic represents more than 30 sailings a week to Europe, Scandinavia the Baltic and beyond.
The Humber ports handle more than 70 freight train movements per day.
Goole is situated 50 miles upriver and is the UK’s premier inland port. It handles over two million tonnes of cargo annually.
