The 41st Annual General Meeting of the Coastguard Association was held in the Parisienne Hotel, Blackpool on Saturday 18th March. Apart from your Committee and Trustees, 7 members attended representing mainly the South, SouthEast and East coasts branches.
The meeting had a full Agenda and it was generally agreed that 2016 had been the busiest year thus far for the Coastguard Association. There was lots of positive news both from the committee and from the members. More assistance had been provided during 2016 overall than ever before.
On completion the group was welcomed at the Fleetwood Nautical Campus by Fleetwood Coastguard Station Officer Mark Sumner and DSO Rob Bennett, who both deliver training courses at the Campus.
Mark Sumner explaining the variety of training completed in the pool simulator…
Including the Helicopter Underwater Escape simulator
More affectionately known as the ‘Dunker!’
After the Pool simulator, we were taken to the Extensive Ship Navigation Simulator
Where some of us were allowed to show off our skills…or not as the case may be!
Hong Kong looked impressive as 3 tugs met us and escorted us to our berth…
Close Quarters manoeuvring was called for on occasion…
Then we were buzzed by all manner of SAR helicopters, many from bye-gone days…
Finally, we were given the helm of a 40 knot, 14M fast patrol jet launch and some of us did good…others, well let’s say the simulator crashed as well! The flexibility of this simulator is simply astounding. Tony, the simulator technician, was able to create a wide range of lifelike scenario’s designed to test the navigational expertise of mariners at any level, all in the safety of a bridge simulator.
The final visit was to the Engine Rom simulator, complete with electrical switch gear panel simulation. This very impressive piece of kit allows instructors to simulate slow time failures of any part of the ships propulsion and support systems, needing a very watchful engineering eye to keep it all up and running!
Fleetwood Nautical Campus is undoubtedly extremely well equipped to provide a diverse range of training to nautical students from around the world and we thank you for allowing us a brief insight to the courses that you deliver. Our special thanks goes to Mark Sumner for hosting a fabulous visit and for his patience in answering our never-ending stream of questions. Our thanks also to Rob Bennett, DSO who assisted Mark and to Tony Dunkiert the Simulator Technician, who obviously has one of the best jobs at the Campus!
To download the 2017 CGA minutes click the link below:
