Editorial 01/04

January 15th, 2004 by JCB
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UKMPA Chairman Norman McKinney Retires

 

UKMPA Chairman Norman McKinney stood down as Chairman in November at the Liverpool Conference following a sixyear term at the helm. He is replaced by Les Cate who was duly elected unopposed at the Conference. It is appropriate here to pay tribute to Norman’s achievements as Chairman during a term that has probably seen more problems and upheavals than any other period in our association’s history. In November 1997 when Norman was elected, the public image of pilots was at rock bottom following the negative press coverage over the Sea Empress grounding.  He was thrown into the deep end by the new Labour Government’s decision to undertake a review of the 1987 Pilotage Act which resulted directly from the Sea Empress disaster. During the next three years Norman gained the respect of the DfT and this was reflected by the considerable influence that the UKMPA was able to have over the production of the Port Marine Safety Code. However, despite this respect, many pilots will have forgotten how, during the drafting process, other interested parties attempted to water down the safety and accountability content of the Code.  Reviewing all these drafts with their subtle amendments provided hours of painstaking reading by all the Section committee but it was Norman’s refusal to be brow beaten that provided the necessary stimulus to all those involved. Unfortunately, possibly as a result of industry lobbying, the government apeared to lose interest in underpinning the PMSC with legislation after its publication and Norman suffered the frustration of seeing much valuable work on pilot standards, training and qualifications sidelined with the demise of the British Ports Industry Training (BPIT) group. The Humber dispute provided a double challenge for Norman’s leadership. Despite the dispute initially being handled internally by HPL members, it immediately set the DfT against the UKMPA whose support for HPL resulted in an overt support for the employers position by the supposedly neutral DfT officials. Regrettably the subsequent requirement for full T&G and UKMPA involvement on behalf of HPL caused a total breach in contact with the Department. Despite this hostile atmosphere Norman realised the importance of maintaining relations with the DfT and sought meetings with them and the shipping minister in order that other outstanding items could be dealt with. It is a credit to Norman that after two difficult years, contact with the Minister and DfT has been re-established and the UKMPA is now in a position to move forward on amending the 1987 Act under the leadership of Les Cate.

As if this was not sufficient turmoil for a Chairman, Norman also had to deal with the EU Ports Directive which, by considering pilotage as a commercial operation, was set to introduce competition into pilotage. The intense lobbying of MEPs by Norman, Simon Davey and Les Cate in support of the EMPA opposition campaign eventually led to the Directive being rejected by the European Parliament.  This was a significant victory since it represented the first occasion whereby a directive had been totally thrown out in the history of the EU.

All these were the major battles dealt with by Norman during his Chairmanship

but excludes the considerable everyday, behind the scenes dealings, which although largely unacknowledged have served to raise the profile of the UKMPA and enhance its reputation as a professional organisation. I am sure that you will all join me in wishing Norman a long, happy and relaxing retirement.