MNTB visits RFA ‘Fort Rosalie’

Kevin Slade, MNTB chairman, along with Glenys Jackson, Head of MNTB and Fena Boyle, MNTB Training and careers Co-ordinator, had a useful, interesting and enjoyable day on board the RFA Fort Rosalie as part of the ‘families and friends’ day, on Friday 29 July.  Guy Platten, UK Chamber of Shipping CEO was also part of the group, along with other shipping company and industry colleagues, as guests of the ship’s Chief Engineer Richard Graham.  Richard is an MNTB Board member and has provided valuable input into our extensive apprenticeship trailblazer work, as well as co-chairing our ‘Futures’ working group as part of our ‘Training 2015’ review activity.

‘Fort Rosalie’ is currently anchored at Portland Port, and the visit started with a welcome and safety briefing by Commanding Officer, Captain Jed MacAnley over the ship’s tannoy.  Our tour of the vessel took in the bridge, engine room and engine control room, cargo areas, stores, mess and dining areas.  The ship is a breeding ground for a range of deck and engineering apprentices and officer cadets, along with a number of newly-qualified officers – both trained by the RFA and taken on as junior officers from sponsoring companies and charitable organisations that have been unable to provide employment in the immediate post-certification period.   Talking to the apprentices, cadets and junior officers about their training, their work on board and their future aspirations was a pleasure.  They were a credit to the seafaring community and to the RFA, which provides extensive and comprehensive training and career development opportunities.

The visit was rounded-off with a bespoke graduation ceremony as Richard Graham was awarded an MEng degree, with distinction, by the course Director of the University of Portsmouth, where Richard has been studying for the degree over the last 18 month