Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Accepted
Paragraph: 145
To invest in the maritime sector, the UK must invest in its people.
Recommendation
To invest in the maritime sector, the UK must invest in its people. The Government should carry out a review of training funding in the maritime sector—establishing if there are barriers to access and how the system can be improved. This should include an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of providing fully funded training places for officers and ratings.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendation and outlines existing support for seafarer training through a Support for Maritime Training Fund, and refers to the Seafarer Cadet Review and Maritime Skills Commission's Ratings Review.
Paragraph Reference:
145
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government notes this recommendation. The department supports the cost of seafarer training though a Support for Maritime Training Fund. To stimulate more cadetships, the Government rate of funding for each cadetship was increased from 30% to 50% at the end of 2022. Our improved funding package aligns with our work to increase the number of UK cadets through the Seafarer Cadet Review, which was published in June 2022. The review made several recommendations around course content, career progression, the use of simulators, attracting more students into cadetships, broadening the qualification offer to include degrees and in relation to funding that the complex funding system should be restructured to stimulate change. The Review is currently in its implementation phase. The Maritime Skills Commission is also undertaking a Ratings Review which is due to report in Summer 2023. A range of maritime apprenticeships are available, this includes roles for ratings and other skilled maritime jobs. Apprenticeship policy is devolved, therefore different arrangements exist in each of the home nations with varying levels of funding and availability. The MCA has worked with industry to ensure that where required, their safety examinations are accepted by the Institute for Apprenticeship as ‘end point assessments’, this has avoided duplication of assessments which was previously an unnecessary burden on industry.