UK government confirms cadet funding boost
Funding boost will see more than 400 extra cadets trained in maritime roles every year
UK MARITIME minister Nusrat Ghani has confirmed a £15m boost to funding for cadet training.
The move, first reported by Lloyd’s List, will see a doubling in support for cadet training to £30m per year.
The Department for Transport will provide the extra funding through the Support for Maritime Training, known as Smart, initiative.
It means more than 400 extra cadets will be trained in maritime roles every year — up from 750 to 1,200.
The funding will increase annually over seven years, according to a DfT statement.
Carnival UK, BP, Shell, Maersk and Stena Line are backing the policy by guaranteeing cadets their first year of employment.
“We are building the maritime workforce of tomorrow and I want to encourage more young people to consider an exciting and rewarding career at sea,” Ms Ghani said. “By doubling the funding for cadet training, we will help make sure that our engineers and captains of the future can access the right opportunities to reach their full potential.”
The UK Chamber of Shipping, Merchant Navy Training Board and trade union Nautilus International have led a two-year campaign for Smart+ funding to be doubled.
“Nothing will prove that the UK is open for business quite like seeing more British seafarers arrive in the world’s ports,” UK Chamber of Shipping chief executive Guy Platten said. “We already recruit people from all backgrounds and all corners of the country. With this new investment, we will be able to create thousands of new opportunities in the years ahead.”
The funding will pay for training in navigation, engineering and electronics.
Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton, City of Glasgow College, Lairdside Maritime Centre in Liverpool, Fleetwood Nautical Campus, NAFC Marine Centre, University of Plymouth and the South Shields Marine School will take part in the scheme.
The DfT has also produced a short video about cadet training.
*This article has been edited. The original version stated that Carnival UK, BP, Shell, Maersk and Stena Line would create an extra 450 training positions on board ships. Instead they will guarantee cadets their first job.