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Displaying items by tag: Maritime Careers

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, has signed up to join London International Shipping Week 2023 (11-15 September).

The GLA's multi-function buoy tender THV Galatea is to visit the Pool of London where it will be a host to showcase its people, skills and technology-driven practices on board.

LISW is an industry-facing calendar of over 200 events across the centre of London, making great use of the capital’s maritime connections and landmark venues, including Trinity House, the International Maritime Organization and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Maritime safety organisation Trinity House is taking this opportunity to engage with industry and government by bringing THV Galatea into the Pool of London to berth alongside HMS Belfast, the iconic floating visitor tourist attraction on the Thames.

While the custom-built buoy tender THV Galatea will serve as a platform to showcase Trinity House’s people and how it approaches its dual missions as an aid to navigation prover and maritime charity.

Trinity House will make the ship also available as a space for functions and meetings during the week, among them Afloat includes to highlight a Maritime UK Careers fair following the UKSST report launch which is to take place on Monday, 11 September. 1.00am - 16.00pm.

This invite-only event will welcome students from Further and Higher education establishments and introduce the wide-ranging maritime careers available for those considering opportunities after education.

Afloat also highlights the event of Maritime Careers and Opportunities on Wednesday 13 September (09:00 - 15:00) This high-level seminar will identify innovations in training and support for industry entrants throughout their careers, at sea and beyond. For more details including to reserve a free ticket click here.

As for the main showcase, this too is to take place onboard THV Galatea on Wednesday 13 September (1830-2130) when a private event is held for industry, the government and press/media.

Visitors to the event will meet a number of our multi-disciplinary shore and vessel teams, whose work and expertise will vary from cutting edge research and development, navigational requirements, multiple engineering disciplines, cadet training, maritime welfare and giving, marine operations and commercial services.

For a list of all events and details click here.

On the importance of sending THV Galatea to exhibit at LISW, Deputy Master Captain Ian McNaught said: “While we can only show our guests a small part of what we do, we hope that everyone will appreciate the critical work being done by our people to safeguard seafarers and ships and keeping our island nation open for business, but also to raise awareness of the importance of the Red Ensign and the UK’s vital maritime sector.”

Published in Lighthouses

The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is to host their annual 'Open Day' next week at Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour on Tuesday 8th of November between 10:00-15:00hrs.

The careers event will provide an opportunity to meet Shipping Companies and Organisations at the NMCI campus which is located beyond the ferryport in Ringaskiddy in the west of Cork Harbour. (For directions see further below). 

Career Presentations

  • Marine Electro-Technology
  • Marine Engineering
  • Marine Nautical Science

Presentations will be provided throughout the day on the theme of a maritime career held at the Main Lecture Theatre. These will start at 10:00 and will continue at regular intervals until 15:00.

  • Meet the students and lecturers
  • Ample parking and catering facilities

Tours of the College

During the Open Day, there will be group tours of the college that will be held at regular intervals. The tours will feature some of the college's specialist facilities among them:

  • The high-tech ‘Bridge and Engine Room Simulator’
  • The panoramic ‘Chartroom’
  • Workshops

NMCI is an approved national centre for education in the maritime sector and is a constituent college of Munster Technological University (MTU). For further information, email: [email protected] 

Directions to NMCI: follow the car ferry symbols on all road signs around Cork city. This will bring you to the village of Ringaskiddy, and then the college campus is situated on the left about 500m after the turn off for the ferry terminal.

Published in Jobs

As Afloat reported today, Maritime UK Week (10-16 October) is underway with the Belfast shipyard of the Harland & Wolff Group also joining in celebrating the maritime sector campaign.

In addition Harland & Wolff will also highlight their sites, skills, and people as part of the Martime Week's campaign to focus on the latest developments in the maritime sector and engage people across the UK with the world of maritime.

The week long event is led by Maritime UK, the umbrella body for the maritime sector, bringing together the shipping, ports, services, engineering and leisure marine industries.

Throughout the week, people are invited to explore the world of maritime through a series of careers fairs and open days, among them an 'Open Day' to be held tomorrow on the Isles of Scilly ferry.

During the week, Harland & Wolff will be hosting a first on site roundtable at their Belfast yard which is Centred on Pride in Maritime.

This industry roundtable, is to be held on 13 October (10am – 11:30am) which is to bring together leaders and network members to discuss progress on ensuring maritime is welcoming for the LGBT+ community.

In addition for more information about Maritime UK's careers events page click here.

Published in Shipyards

UK prime minister Boris Johnson visited London International Shipping Week (LISW19) yesterday where he boarded NLV Pharos, a Scottish aids to navigation tender which moored alongside HMS Belfast, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In between promoting maritime careers to an audience of students, professionals and school leavers, the prime minister spoke to the media among them BBC which reported Boris Johnson had denied lying to Queen Elizabeth over the advice he gave her over the five-week suspension of the UK Parliament.

The prime minister was speaking after Scotland's highest civil court ruled on Wednesday the shutdown was unlawful.

Click here to watch an interview of Boris Johnston onboard NLV Pharos (heli-deck) in the Pool of London. Afloat adds the vessel as a venue was ironic given NLV Pharos operates for Northern Lighthouse Board, which is responsible for the waters off Scotland and the Isle of Man.

The NLB is the Scottish equivalent of Irish Lights and Trinity House as previously reported, is responsible for the waters of England, Wales, Channel Islands and Gibraltar. Together the trio form the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA's) in the UK and Ireland.

As Afloat previously reported Princess Anne officially launched the opening of LISW19 on Monday. Earlier this year the Princess Royal, whose role is Master of Trinity House as part of the ongoing 150-year relationship between Irish Lights and the Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, paid a visit to Irish Lights headquarters in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Princess Anne toured the Irish Lights ILV Granuaile (see related London reinactment sailing story) and visited the Baily, Rockabill and Kish Lighthouses. In addition the tour outlined Irish Lights’ work providing vital maritime safety services and modern navigation aids.

Published in Ports & Shipping

A list of internships for the international maritime industry for 2011 has been announced and can be viewed on the Maritime Careers section posted on the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO). 

The following companies: ABS, BP, Shell, Clarksons, Lloyds Register and the European Maritime Safety Association (EMSA) are offering a broad range of internship positions. 

For further details on the internships and links to the companies, logon here

Published in Jobs

About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth

Main Trophies

Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy – overall race winner under IRC Time Correction

Boccale de Mediterraneo – winner of ORC category

RLR Trophy – winner of monohull line honours

Captain Morgan Trophy – winner of multihull division on corrected time (MOCRA)

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