Safety at Sea Awareness competition
Media Release
16 November 2007
Neil McEwen, a 23 year old engineering officer trainee from Glasgow has won first prize in the Chamber of Shipping UK and Ireland Safety at Sea Awareness Competition.
The shipping minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, presented the winners with their awards at the Chamber of Shipping, London (Friday 16 November 2007).
These national awards for innovative ideas from young seafarers for improvements in safety at sea are organised by the Chamber of Shipping and sponsored this year by BP Shipping.
Neil is sponsored by Maersk Marine Services and his training is managed by Clyde Marine Training. He is due to complete his training and BSc (Hons) Marine Engineering course by the end of the year.
Neil’s winning idea, entitled 'Emergency Library System', proposed a computational device and software program designed to act as an additional aid during an emergency situation. Its purpose is to provide vital information and suggestions of how best to act in the event of an emergency.
Easy to follow steps allow the user to navigate through the system and obtain the information most critical to the circumstance. All technologies are current and therefore familiar to those who would use the system. The Emergency Library System is proposed as an additional piece of safety equipment that would make life at sea safer for the entire crew.
Second prize goes to Warsash Maritime Academy student – Peter Hunter, a 20 year old deck officer trainee from Southampton.
Peter’s project discussed the stowage and securing of loose equipment in heavy weather on passenger ships in particular. He felt that there seemed to be a complacency with regard to stowing loose items of equipment on board, and reported on two incidents which he had encountered whilst at sea.
Peter suggested a number of solutions to resolve the problem, such as anchoring computer monitors to desks, bolting television sets to their mountings, raised edge shelves for bars and gift shops, anchoring lounge chairs, deck chairs and bar stools to the deck and reducing the use of glass.
Fellow Warsash merchant navy trainee, Gareth Owen, a 25 year old from Carmarthen has won third prize.
Gareth's project was entitled 'Don't just know your own role on board!' in which he suggested that some time each week should be spent learning a little bit about other people's jobs on board.
Gareth's idea involved shadowing a work colleague of the same rank from another department in their roles on board to help people gain a greater knowledge to different aspects of the ships operation, and lead to a better understanding between departments.
Gareth is studying to be an engineering officer with Shell International Trading and Shipping Company and started his training at Warsash Maritime Academy in September 2006.
For further information please contact:
Jeremy Harrison, Chamber of Shipping
020 7417 2834