Engineering College News

In response to popular demand, Mersey Maritime has expanded the eligibility of its annual awards to include maritime companies and related organisations right across the Maritime, Logistics and Energy spectrum in the whole of the North West and the Isle of Man. Chris Shirling-Rooke, CEO of Mersey Maritime, said: “Last year’s inaugural event was so popular that we have been inundated with businesses wanting to get involved. Taking the time to enter one or more of our 10 award categories certainly pays off, as two non-finalists last year won lucrative contracts on the strength of their entries. “The judging panel is made up of leading industry figures from our main sponsors and all entries are evaluated, with the various merits of each debated by these eminent people.

Terry Weston has been confirmed as Chief Executive of Maritime and Engineering College North West (MECNW) following the retirement of his predecessor, Jim Teasdale, at the end of September. Jim Teasdale was a founder director and chief executive of Birkenhead-based Maritime and Engineering College North West (MECNW), a charitable foundation set up under his leadership in 1998 to provide apprenticeship training in vocational skills with a particular focus on engineering and marine engineering. Under his direction, the college merged with industry representative body Mersey Maritime - also led by Mr Teasdale – in 2007, bringing together the complementary strengths of each organisation under the newly-formed Mersey Maritime Group umbrella.

When the Institution of Naval Architects was formed in 1860 it became one of the bastions of Victorian engineering, enabling and encouraging the exchange of knowledge, information and good practice in the field of naval architecture. The basic principles laid down in the early days saw the Institution thrive as a body representing all the maritime nations of the world and this was recognized in its incorporation by Royal Charter in 1910 as the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA).

Protecting the world and its oceans remains the focus of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as it celebrates its 125th anniversary, says its new president, Richard Vie, VP Technical Development and Quality Assurance, Corporate Shipbuilding, Carnival Corporation. Addressing more than 400 leading marine professionals from around the world at the IMarEST’s Annual Dinner at London’s Guildhall on Friday, March 28, Vie also called on members to inspire the next generation of marine engineers.

The next generation of engineering and maritime stars was recognized at the annual Maritime and Engineering College North West (MECNW) Apprenticeship Awards. The ceremony on November 14, held at MECNW in Birkenhead, celebrated the achievements of learners across 11 different award categories which were presented by former Liverpool FC and England player and coach Sammy Lee. George Day, from Peel Ports, was named overall Apprentice of the Year and also Peel Apprentice of the Year.

Merseyside engineering firm Cammell Laird announced its largest ever intake of apprentices since it restarted its apprenticeship program in 2008. Birkenhead-based Cammell Laird has taken on 22 apprentices working across a range of skills which brings the total number within the business to 71. Around 50 apprentices have graduated into highly skilled, qualified tradesmen over the past five years with Cammell Laird and are still actively employed with the business. Last year, Cammell Laird recruited 18 apprentices and had a total of 64 working for the company.

Merseyside shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird has formally started the second five year cycle of its biggest single contract. Work began in June 2013 on the second period of Cammell Laird’s through-life support cluster contract to maintain nine of the 13 ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) flotilla. The cluster contract was first awarded to Cammell Laird in 2008 and following reviews of performance and value for money the contract was extended for a further five years to 2018.

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) has been listed in the rankings of the nation’s top baccalaureate colleges for the northern region in the 2011 edition of “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. The college was also ranked among the nation’s top 50 engineering colleges in the category of “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.” Based solely on a survey of engineering deans and senior faculty conducted during the spring of 2010, Maine Maritime Academy was ranked 42nd in the undergraduate engineering category. Maine Maritime Academy was ranked for the fourth consecutive year in the section titled, “Best Baccalaureate Colleges (By Region)”.

In August 2002, Transas successfully commissioned its Engine Room Simulator at the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is the first Transas simulator installed in this country. The ERS 2000 Version 5.4.2 supplied to the College comprises one instructor station and three interactive trainee workstations with full set of simulator’s modules. The installation was followed by a standard 3-days operational and instructor’s training course organized by Transas specialists. Transas Marine’s ERS 2000 is a PC-based networked simulator, which includes up to 12 interactive Trainee workstations operating under Instructor control and monitoring.