Maritime UK South West partners Cornwall Marine Network – who represent 400 maritime businesses in Cornwall – co-hosted an event with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy’s greenest ship, to help promote green maritime jobs in the region.
Representatives from Cornwall and Falmouth Town Councils, local maritime business leaders, the local Chamber of Commerce and FSB, Spaceport, RNLI and apprentices met with the ship’s captain Lieutenant Commander Michael Hutchinson to help grow the links between the Navy and the maritime sector in Falmouth, Cornwall and the South West.
L to R: Jude Ball – Mylor Yacht Harbour, Emily Kent – Head of Economy, Skills and Culture – Cornwall Council, Rebekah Hancock.– Electrical Apprentice with Mylor yacht Harbour, Diccon Rogers – Managing Director KML – Keynvor MorLift Ltd – Falmouth, James Eddy – Academy Project Officer – Cornwall Marine Academy, Dave Wickes – Partnership Manager – Cornwall Marine Academy, Dave Nicoll – Fundraising & Partnership Lead – South West Region – RNLI, Justin Sinclair – Marina and Boatyard Operative Apprenticeship at Gweek Boatyard
L to R: Brigadier Graeme ’Jock’ Fraser MBE ADC – Naval Regional Commander (Wales and Western England), Paul Wickes MBE- CEO Cornwall Marine Network – Maritime UK National Council, Kim Conchie – CEO – Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Lt Cdr Michael Hutchinson Commanding Officer HMS TAMAR, Ann Vandermeulen – Cornwall Development Manager – Federation of Small Businesses, Steve Henaghen, – Commander Royal Navy Chief of Staff.
The meeting came as the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimated that with £1bn of Government-led investment into the maritime sector, 11,000 ‘green collar jobs’ in the South West, and 74,000 nationally will be created. Maritime jobs pay £9,000 more than the UK national average.
These roles will be key to decarbonising the maritime sector, which the UK Government must do if it is to meet its legally-binding net-zero emissions targets. By building links between the HMS Tamar and Cornwall’s companies, workforce and students, the County can better meet the opportunities that exist now and in the future.
Further, with coastal communities like Cornwall’s being hardest hit economically by the pandemic, green funding would help ‘level up’ the area and help the UK reach its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Paul Wickes MBE, Maritime UK South West and Cornwall Marine Network CEO said:
“Yesterday the fantastic team on HMS Tamar, led by Brigadier Graeme ‘Jock’ Fraser and Lieutenant-Commander Michael Hutchinson welcomed Maritime UK South West and Cornwall Marine Network on-board to celebrate their new affiliation.
“Together we hosted local business and Council leaders for a very special visit and tour to celebrate the Navy’s newest, greenest vessel, its affiliation with Cornwall and the South West, to support #MaritimeUKWeek and our ask to government for £1billion to kick start developing zero-emission ships, in line to meet the government objectives of Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
“We were all hugely impressed by the HMS Tamar team and their passion and commitment, and how they are harnessing the latest innovative technology the vessel brings into use. Our special thanks go to Lieutenant-Commander Michael Hutchinson and his team for their kind hospitality and we are already planning further collaboration and working together and supporting HMS Tamar to develop local and stronger ties with Falmouth, Cornwall and the wider South West in the next few months.”
Chair of Cornwall Marine Network, Peter Childs said:
“It was great to revisit A&P Falmouth and go aboard HMS Tamar kindly hosted by the Royal Navy and Cornwall Marine Network. HMS Tamar is the latest and greenest vessel in today’s Royal Navy with the best fuel consumption and lowest emissions in the fleet and clearly shows the importance of the green and maritime sectors to Cornwall.
“There were four different groups of visitors over the day to tour the ship, meet the crew and grow the links and understanding between Cornwall, the Navy and the Marine sector. To me it is so important that Cornwall understands the opportunities that exist in the Marine sector including commercial industry, naval and leisure.
“Two of the organisations I represent, Cornwall Marine Network and The Cornwall College Group, work extensively delivering skills and training for the local workforce and companies in the County. By building links between the HMS Tamar and Cornwall’s companies, workforce and students we can all better meet the opportunities that exist now and in the future.”
KML Managing Director, Diccon Rogers said:
“A real pleasure to be invited by CMN and Maritime UK South West aboard HMS Tamar in Falmouth. The kindness and hospitality of the Royal Navy was wonderfully refreshing in these challenging times, and the skills, professionalism, humour, energy and enthusiasm of the entire ship’s company as they complete the final preparations to their ultra-modern ship was truly impressive. Tamar will carry the true maritime spirit of Cornwall across the globe, and demonstrates what the UK can do at sea in the 21st century”
Cornwall Marine Network – Since 2005 we have supported businesses and the wider community across the South West with initiatives to enable growth, supporting businesses with training, skills and advice and across that time have supporting over 35000 young people and creating over 3200 jobs.
MaritimeUK – The collective voice for the UK’s maritime industries. We champion and work to enable a thriving maritime sector.
