Chairman’s Report Don Cockrill

February 24th, 2013 by JCB
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With the festive season now a distant memory the year has kicked off at full tilt. Not only are we dealing with the usual challenges of the British winter weather, with many of us having our professional skills tested in numerous directions daily but also the ongoing political issues both in the UK and the EU demand similar vigilance and effort to ensure the highest possible standards of navigational safety are maintained within our ports, despite the best efforts of certain commercial enterprises to undermine them for purely financial reasons.

The week before Christmas saw the Transport Select Committee oral evidence session which I attended. The transcript of that session is “must read” for all UKMPA members and is available on the UKMPA web site – Government/TSC.  As I write, we are awaiting the TSC report.

The Marine Navigation (No.2) Bill is continuing its passage through the House of Lords having been passed up from the Commons amended only by the government’s altered wording of Clause 2 to “Deck Officer”.  A wholly vague, dangerous and professionally (as well as legally) unacceptable wording.  Subsequently, about 60 Peers who have expressed interest in Transport matters and or shipping were written to by myself on your behalf. Additionally, following my encouragement to you to do so, a number of pilots also wrote to Peers, two being referred to during the proceedings of the Second reading on 18th January.  Despite all the irrefutable factual, professional and legal arguments put to the Lords by the Lord Tony Berkeley and the Lord Chidgey, their Lordships chose instead to listen and accept the misleading and specious arguments propounded by the pro-government sponsors and supporters of the Bill.  The transcript is available on the UKMPA web site – Government/Dft. As I write, the Bill progresses on to a full Committee stage, date to be confirmed.

To those pilots who made the effort to write to Peers (and MPs before-hand) the Association offers you our thanks.  Those of you who for whatever reason did not write, either to your MP or a House of Lords’ member may wish to reflect on the ultimate effect such inaction may have on our profession and more importantly the safety of navigation within UK ports in the years ahead.

In the EU, the ports policy review held a Public Meeting on 18th January. A short summary paper of the findings of the Price Waterhouse Cooper questionnaires was published shortly before the meeting and can be found on the UKMPA website under the Government-EU tab. Meanwhile, issues all very relevant to UK pilotage are ongoing in the guise of  competition, PECs and concessions.

Staying with European matters, all UKMPA members will have received the formal invitation to attend the 2013 EMPA conference in Malta April 24th -26th , www.EMPA2013.com.  All UKMPA members are invited to attend what promises to be a great event at a very special location.

Within our Association itself it is a pleasure to be able to report an increasing membership which will soon be enhanced with the addition of pilots from non-Dft authorised ports and Associate membership. Application forms for all three membership categories are available on our website, so if you have friends or ex-colleagues now working as pilots abroad or in the UK outside of the 1987 Pilotage Act jurisdiction who have expressed an interest in joining the UKMPA, please direct them to the website.

All members received circular 26.2012 advising of the subscription collection method change to Direct Debit and subsequently the associated paperwork. Hopefully by the time you read this you will have returned the Direct Debit form.  Having a uniform system of subscription collection via 21st century banking methods not only saves the Treasurer significant time in not having to send out quarterly notices or chase late payers, (not to forget that he has (unacceptably) had to deal with 40 different systems of subscription collection) but it also saves us money – your subscriptions.  That this change has caused some inconvenience to every member is understood but ultimately we all benefit from a streamlined collection system.

You will be aware that over the last few years Section Committee has endeavored to be less London centric and meet at locations around the country using the opportunity to discuss various issues with Local Secretaries and district association Chairmen.  This year we will be visiting Belfast, Southampton, London (with conference) and Middlesborough.  In addition, I am happy to attend local general meetings (subject to my availability  of course) to discuss any matters requested.

2012 was a significant year for the UKMPA which saw pilots playing significant roles in national events and within the international pilot community.  In 2013 we must continue to look to the future to see how we can further enhance the impact of our Association on the safety of navigation within UK waters and further afield, educate our government administrators to the true reality of  21st century shipping operations, play a greater role in matters of European and International pilotage and strive to maintain and where possible improve the panoply of professional expertise that define a competent pilot.

Finally, from the way in which the Marine Navigation (No.2) Bill has progressed over the last seven months and taking into consideration the naïve manner in which Pilotage is regarded by our national administrations and industry bodies,  it is incumbent upon UKMPA members to strive to maintain safety navigational standards in UK ports. It is clear our government is not truly minded to do so effectively despite its rhetoric.

Without a collective countering effort (that means by you the membership) those unscrupulous operators in shipping who seek to maximise their profits at the expense of society will prevail and we will only have ourselves to blame for the consequences. Pay close attention to defective pilot ladders, be safe and above all take pride and enjoy protecting the environment and maintaining the safety and efficiency of navigation in our ports for the benefit of our nation.