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NSO, MarRI and SMI Conference
The challenges in attracting the workforce and skills required for the marine industry, collaboration, and the importance of a clear road map were key themes from the National Shipbuilding Office, MarRI and SMIconference.
Chaired by Rod Paterson, CEO of the National Shipbuilding Office, he was joined on the panel with representatives from SMEs (Tom O’Neill, Manor Marine and James Cowies, Business Development Director, ACUA Ocean), academia (Alan Murphy, Professor of Maritime Engineering at University of Southampton) and trade bodies (Emma Johnson from SMI and Jake Rigby from MarRI).
The session started with a preview of the road map for the sector developed by MarRi. Jake Rigby, Global Head of Innovation and Research at BMT, explained the importance of having a road map to enable companies to pair, up, avoid duplication, to attain match funding and to position the UK as a leader in the maritime innovation space. With a goal to safeguard national security and resilience, Rigby highlighted how having the correct supply chain in place would accelerate economic prosperity in this sector. The audience were shown the preview of the road map, which highlighted the North Star of economic as key, with supporting themes of Future Ready Security and Resilience, Leadership, Enabling Digital Productivity, Evolving Employment and Skills, and Trusted Autonomy. The full roadmap will be published later this year with MarRI members able to preview it now.
Highlighting that whilst key aims from the MarRI roadmap might differ, Rod Paterson, CEO of the National Shipbuilding Office explained how the sector shared a common ambition to drive growth and create economic prosperity for the UK. One aim, he stated is to identify the UK’s USP – where to gain the first advantage, be an early adopter and build on existing success. The recently launched Maritime Autonomy Opportunity Report cofounded with the National Physical Laboratory, quantified the UK’s maritime autonomy sector at a value of £600m per year. Yet with 99% of the sector made up from SME’s innovation from collaboration is key, requiring everyone from Government, academia, trade associations, unions and industry needing to work together to achieve success. Paterson cited the example of how the MCA Innovation Park has launched a new partnership with King’s Harbour Master in Plymouth which will establish designated trial areas within the Plymouth Dockyard to support the testing of prototypes including maritime autonomous surface ships and other new technologies.
Describing how the move towards automation is actually creating a buzz around working in the maritime industry, Alan Murphy, formerly of the Merchant Navy, explained how academia can support the industry through the availability of students to carry out vital research projects. Working in conjunction with bodies such as SMI, a key opportunity is to work with universities, colleges, and even primary schools to encourage young people to look at the marine sector as an exciting area in which to work.
Working collaboratively to make shipbuilding stringer was a theme endorsed by Tom O’Neill from Manor Marine. He explained how “knowing what you are good at and then collaborating to win work” was key to success. Panellist James Cowies of ACUA Ocean, agreed, with the caveat of picking partners carefully so that by working together both parties come up with joint solutions. It was noted that engaging with universities provided the opportunity for companies to engender collaboration within a safe and trusted environment.
The challenge to make the marine industry ‘sexy’ and encourage diversity was also highlighted, with the move to autonomy seen as a key factor that would appeal to young people looking to work in marine. The skills required in the future maritime sector will be different to those of the past.
