Graduates celebrating the completion of their HND in Nautical Science were given words of encouragement from the UK’s highest authority on Shipping, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Captain Roger Towner, Head of Seafarer Services and Ship Registry at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, was the guest of honour at the event and spoke about the shipping industry’s survival through the recession.

He said:

“Troubled economic times are with us at the moment, but with the vast bulk of the world’s goods transported by sea, you have chosen a career that has a great future.”

Captain Towner, thinks it’s a challenging time for the students to be entering the maritime industry, adding:

“The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, electronics, communications and the environment are currently in a state of change. Now, having proved yourselves academically I hope that you can understand, take forward and deal with the consequences of these changes.”

Fleetwood Nautical Campus has an International reputation for excellence, welcoming more than 2,500 students annually from across the Globe. The College is also the most successful in the UK at delivering the HND programme and preparing students for their Certificates of Competency, thanks to its excellent staff and students.

The day was extra special for the elected student speaker Pavaninder Singh Bindra. Mr Bindra’s family travelled 13,000km round trip from Chandigarh in India to Thornton Little Theatre, Blackpool for the ceremony. He said:

“It’s really good having them here especially on this day. I didn’t see them for nine months which was hard. I think that Fleetwood Nautical College is a lovely place to study – I’ve had a very good experience here this time and when I was last here in 2004. My family like it too but the weather is a bit cold for them!”

Students leave the College with vital skills required to pursue a career in the Maritime Industry, including navigation, meteorology, seamanship and the essential ‘Certificate of Competency offering them employment in an extremely demanding and challenging profession.

The Nautical Campus is home to some of the world’s most advanced technologies. Amongst others, it houses the most modern 5-Bridge Full Mission Ship Simulator, a Fire Ground, a Seamanship Centre, a Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer and an impressive Environmental Survival Training Tank, providing students with a sterling start to their nautical career.