The UK Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP, has launched the inaugural Maritime Safety Week, running from 9th to the 13th July, as part of the Government's efforts to share knowledge of safety practices and to highlight the work which is already being done across the diverse shipping industry to strive for safety excellence.
Paul Johnson, Director of Compliance at Shoreham Port commented “Health and safety is paramount at Shoreham Port and we are in full support of Maritime Safety Week, helping to raise awareness not just amongst professional mariners but all users of the maritime environment, from recreational mariners to beach goers.”
To continuously improve its health and safety culture, Shoreham Port regularly provides training courses for its staff in each department across the Port. All staff at Shoreham Port are trained in First Aid, which includes Defibrillator and Catastrophic Bleeding (Trauma First Aid). A total of seven defibrillators are deployed in and around the Port, three of which are situated in Shoreham Harbour Radio, on board one of Shoreham’s Pilot boats and their tug boat ‘Adurni’.
During the summer staff volunteer to carryout harbour boat patrols to ensure the harbour arms (the entrance to the Port) are free from tombstoning and any other dangerous activities. Staff are taught boat handling skills and attend the Royal Yachting Association VHF radio communications course for certification.
Paul added “We continue to work closely with the RNLI and HM Coastguard and support their open days, which help to make members of the public aware of the safety control measures in place to ensure all visitors to Shoreham Port are made to feel safe. We have in the past assisted the HM Coastguard delivering a maritime safety message to local schools during their assemblies and will continue to work with them when such requests are received.”
Shoreham Port is part of a wide network of maritime organisations supporting Maritime Safety Week. To see what other organisations have been doing to promote the week please search #martimesafetyweek on Twitter and join the conversation.