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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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