MYBA becomes member of Maritime Skills Alliance
In a significant step forward towards giving the superyacht industry a voice in the wider maritime world, MYBA, the Worldwide Yachting Association, has become the 16th member of the Maritime Skills Alliance. SuperyachtNews.com speaks exclusively to those involved about what this development means.…
The Worldwide Yachting Association (MYBA) has become the 16th member of the Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA), a significant step forward in terms of giving the superyacht industry a voice in the wider maritime world.
The MSA sets and promotes skill standards for the UK’s maritime sector and, until now, has been void of the representation from the superyacht sector. Much of the MSA’s work so far has been dedicated to developing a suite of interlocking standards and qualifications, which enables employees to progress both within their specialism and between maritime sectors.
The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) had previously asked for membership of the MSA but, due to it being an association of employer’s representatives, was refused. “The PYA could never get a foot in the door before MYBA came along and now, with the relationship developed how it has, it was the obvious choice to get MYBA in there as the representing body,” says Joey Meen, PYA’s director of training and certification. “So now we as an industry have a seat on the Maritime Skills Alliance, which is essential.”
PYA’s John Wyborn will now be representing MYBA and the superyacht industry in all future MSA matters, which is an important step for the superyacht industry. “The Maritime Skills Alliance is an employer’s group which has the power to define and create qualifications which can sit on the UK (and hence potentially the European) Qualifications and Curriculum Framework (QCF & EQF),” he said.
“Before there was no representation for yachting at all but had we been a
member earlier, the regulations surrounding the MLC 2006 may have been a
bit more tempered to yachting." - Fiona Maureso
“This means that government funding is available to UK schools and colleges to train teenagers in these skills, which will have direct relevance when they find work in a particular sector, [which includes] all maritime sectors, not just sea-going. Because UK QCF qualifications can be mapped across to Europe onto the EQF, a pan European standard is possible. Bill Walworth has recently taken over as the chairman of the MSA and is very keen to reach out to superyacht industry employers to discuss their needs.”
Fiona Maureso, MYBA president, believes that this development will mean more influence for the superyacht industry in terms of incoming regulations. “Whenever legislation for maritime shipping is touched upon, the government goes to the Maritime Skills Alliance to ask them for their opinion and if they can implement it,” she explained.
“Before there was no representation for yachting at all, but had we been a member earlier, the regulations surrounding the MLC 2006 may have been a bit more tempered to yachting. It is one of my missions to work more closely with other industry associations particularly at European level.”
The MSA sets and promotes skill standards for the UK’s maritime sector and, until now, has been void of the representation from the superyacht sector. Much of the MSA’s work so far has been dedicated to developing a suite of interlocking standards and qualifications, which enables employees to progress both within their specialism and between maritime sectors.
The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) had previously asked for membership of the MSA but, due to it being an association of employer’s representatives, was refused. “The PYA could never get a foot in the door before MYBA came along and now, with the relationship developed how it has, it was the obvious choice to get MYBA in there as the representing body,” says Joey Meen, PYA’s director of training and certification. “So now we as an industry have a seat on the Maritime Skills Alliance, which is essential.”
PYA’s John Wyborn will now be representing MYBA and the superyacht industry in all future MSA matters, which is an important step for the superyacht industry. “The Maritime Skills Alliance is an employer’s group which has the power to define and create qualifications which can sit on the UK (and hence potentially the European) Qualifications and Curriculum Framework (QCF & EQF),” he said.
“Before there was no representation for yachting at all but had we been a
member earlier, the regulations surrounding the MLC 2006 may have been a
bit more tempered to yachting." - Fiona Maureso
“This means that government funding is available to UK schools and colleges to train teenagers in these skills, which will have direct relevance when they find work in a particular sector, [which includes] all maritime sectors, not just sea-going. Because UK QCF qualifications can be mapped across to Europe onto the EQF, a pan European standard is possible. Bill Walworth has recently taken over as the chairman of the MSA and is very keen to reach out to superyacht industry employers to discuss their needs.”
Fiona Maureso, MYBA president, believes that this development will mean more influence for the superyacht industry in terms of incoming regulations. “Whenever legislation for maritime shipping is touched upon, the government goes to the Maritime Skills Alliance to ask them for their opinion and if they can implement it,” she explained.
“Before there was no representation for yachting at all, but had we been a member earlier, the regulations surrounding the MLC 2006 may have been a bit more tempered to yachting. It is one of my missions to work more closely with other industry associations particularly at European level.”
Profile links
MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association
Professional Yachtsmen’s Association
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