On 9th September, 165 members and guests of the Workboat Association boarded the City Cruises vessel ‘Erasmus’ at Tower Bridge London, to enjoy a celebratory sunset cruise of the Thames.
Established in 1994, following the suggestion for a code of practice for Workboats in the UK, the Workboat Association was formed of 6 members, to unify representatives of the Industry to take part in the development of the (Brown) Workboat Code: “A Code that would be a combination of the best Industry Practice and the necessary Statuary Regulations” Quote by Tom Allen, Codes lead MCA 1994.
“At that time, one big problem the Workboat industry faced was the fact that there was no legislation suited for these types of vessels and problems often arose if a vessel was inspected by an MCA Surveyor. Recommendations from Surveyors often differed and at times it caused a lot of unnecessary cost and delay for Owners. For those involved a new standard Code would be a great step forward.” Quote by the association’s original secretary, Norman Finlay 2019.
Gradually the association developed into a group of Owners / Operators who wished to set Industry Standards and who were willing to expand their business and also work overseas. It took time to develop the industry at first, but slowly and surely Owners and their fleets started to develop, then they began picking up projects all over the world.
Today the association has over 230 members, collectively operating thousands of vessels across the globe, although the association remains following the same original values, the output and activities have also greatly expanded. From training events, networking events, exhibitions, lobbying, books, training and safety tools, consultancy, support and of course: development of the Workboat Code, the Workboat Association remains the centre of excellence for the industry.
Entertained by the Dulcie May Quintet Jazz band (sponsored by AST Reygar) and fuelled by a BBQ buffet, attendees of the celebration were in fine spirits:
“It was such a fantastic 30th anniversary event, a great opportunity to meet new faces and reconnect with many others. Myself, and my colleagues thoroughly enjoyed the evening!
We know that relationships are key to moving the industry forward and it is always exciting to engage with professionals who share the same passion for innovation and collaboration.” Sarah Diss, Bartech Marine Engineering.
The committee of the Workboat Association are now working hard to ensure that the organisation is able to continue its work in supporting the industry for the years to come. “Thank you to everyone that has helped us over the years, your efforts and enthusiasm has got us to where we are today, without the active engagement and focus from our members and stakeholders, we would not be the fantastic organisation we have become” said Kerrie Forster, Workboat Association CEO.
“At all times the Association has tried to anticipate what was going to be required in the future and take the necessary steps to ensure that nothing got in the way of progress. Safety of vessels and personnel has at all times been paramount.” Norman Finlay, 2019.
