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Fortuna training for jigger fleet

Fortuna training for jigger fleet

A training course has been developed over many months with the assistance of training

Providers approved by the Sea Fish Industry Authority, the non-departmental public body

responsible for crew safety in the UK commercial fishing industry. Technical advisors with

sea going experience in senior positions on jiggers have provided practical input.

 

The course, which focuses on occupational safety, addresses those hazards specific to

working on-board a squid jigger in Falklands waters, in addition to general risks faced in mosttypes of fishing operation.

 

Some 800 jigger men will be brought ashore to undergo the training, which is certainly the

largest training event of its kind in the history of the Falkland Islands fishery.

 

The design process has involved an end-to-end analysis of the jigging operation, identifying

dangerous jobs, ensuring that measures in place to prevent accidents are adequate, and

perhaps most importantly developing effective means of encouraging men to abide by safe

working practices that are in place for their protection and use Personal Protective

Equipment that is available.

 

Classroom sizes are being carefully managed, within practical limitations. The style of

teaching is conversive in nature, with jigger men being encouraged to participate on a

personal level and share their experiences. This is proving very effective and the level of

engagement is high.

 

Keir Day, former Seafish Safety at Sea Leader currently in Stanley delivering the course

commented that “there is a desire to learn that I don’t usually see in the UK”. “These

jigger men are as good a group of seamen as I know, some vessels have room for

improvement but the issues we see here are the same as everywhere, convenience and

sometimes misplaced pride in looking tough getting in the way of safety, but if they go away

with more awareness and acceptance then we have made a difference” he added.

 

Keir was responsible for inspecting the Seafish network of approved training providers

delivering the crew safety courses that trawler men working on UK and Falklands registered

vessels must hold, a post he held for some 10 years.

 

A team of Seafish approved trainers and professional translators are being flown in to

deliver the training. Learners are separated by nationality with each class led by a dedicated

trainer and translator. The course will be translated into three different languages.

 

A series of animations have been created to dramatize recent incidents and are proving to

be an effective means of communicating across language barriers.

 

“It’s no easy thing running a training course as ambitious as this in the Falklands” said

Director James Wallace, “but it’s a pass that we and our partners Go-Rising are determined

to clear and it’s a credit to the Taiwanese vessel owners and fishing masters that have

understood why it needs to be done here in Stanley under the spotlight”.

 

The training course which will continue each year runs parallel to a program of vessel safety

surveys which began in 2018. A former Marine Coastguard Agency ship surveyor travelled

to the port of Kaohsiung to inspect vessels prior to departure for the Falkland Islands.

 

Fortuna would like to thank the Department of Natural Resources, Customs and

Immigration, FIC Agency and all others involved for their support and helping make the

course happen.

 

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