A presentation to the
Vancouver Island Branch of the CIMarE
March 2012
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Introduction
• About the presenter
• Observations of the industry
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About Blue Riband
• What is Blue Riband
• Who we serve
• How we serve
• Solutions for Clients
• Plan for the Future
• Licensing Authority
• Solutions for Partners
• Quality above all
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Conclusion
• Aims
• Benefits to business
• Expansion of activities
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Open Discussion
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1992 Heavy Duty Mechanic Certificate, Camosun College
1994 Diesel Marine Mechanic Certificate, Camosun College
1995-1999 Marine Engineering Apprentice
Pacific Marine Training Institute (BCIT Marine Campus)
BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways
Marine Branch (Ian Smart, Director)
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Nov 1999 –Transport Canada Fourth Class Certificate
Canadian Coast Guard, working as oiler primarily, later as engineer
Sept 2002 – Transport Canada Third Class Certificate
April 2003 – Start Disney Cruise Line, 4th Engineer
June 2004 – Start Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, 2nd Engineer
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Sept 2006 - Work with Coast Guard, Fishing, as engineer
March 2007 – Start “steady” work with SMIT, as 1st and Chief
Oct 2008 – Start with VShips Canada, on ATB, as Chief
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Participating Member of CIMarE since 1998
Married for 10 years, three boys - 6, 4, and 2
Modest house, two practical, 20 year old vehicles
Passionate about my work
www.dieselduck.net, started in 1999, 36,000+ visits/month
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Stimulating work environment
Satisfying work
Enjoy the camaraderie
Pride in being productive
Importance in team, ship and overall industry
Good pay (now)
Good time off (work life balance)
No work taken home
Travel and adventure, to some extent
Steady work, when you can get it
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Dysfunctional, antiquated and prohibitive licensing system
Job market inconsistent
Fragmented policies and enforcement
Lack of experienced people / seafarers ashore making decisions
Varying standards
HR people are lost in the maritime world
Most office staff, “owners” are lost in maritime world
Lack of training
Lack of relevant skills
Protection of incompetence
Tough career path from get go !
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Short term thinking
Lack of foresight and planning for the future
Plenty of money in system, plenty wasted
Us versus them, me versus you
“Young engineers are ignorant and think they know it all” attitude
Old ships – increase workload, environmental footprint
Owners unable to compete without cutting corners
Dangerous and uncomfortable work environment
Inconsistent hiring practices and messages
Resistance to change
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Shortage of qualified, licensed engineers
Frustrated workforce
Fragmented workforce and varying standards
Difficult industry to work in
Not appealing or welcoming to new engineers
Family unfriendly
Leaves the industry, very least, not committed
High turnover
Unsafe ships
Costly in money, time, and safety
Expensive for ship operators
Blue Riband is a not for profit employee
cooperative, focused on quality in the delivery of
services to all aspect of sea-going marine
engineering.
A hybrid of “best practices” from…
Large shipping enterprise, crewing agency, Union,
Transport Canada, Class, International Shipping
Industry, Pilots Association, CIMarE, Class, & other
professional bodies – Doctors, PEng, Technologist.
Blue Riband is the nautical “award” given
to the fastest passenger ship, crossing the
Atlantic Ocean. First awarded in 1838.
To be fast, a ship has to be engineered to
be technologically superior. The work to
achieve the Blue Riband was / is primarily
done by the engineers and technologists,
sailing and ashore. Holding the Blue Riband
demands a great deal of expertise,
foresight and dedication.
Partners
Informed, trained and vetted.
Quality focused and productive.
Willing partner in the success of
the client’s enterprise and the
cooperative now, and in the
future.
Ship Owner / Manager
Un coerced participant in the
program. Focused on growing
their business model.
Transport Canada, IMO, Class
An important part in quality
control and oversight.
Specialized workforce that only a professional body can deliver
Quality focused. Internal and competing business interest kept
at bay by fact our “product” is singularly focused – high quality
human capital.
Long term mentality. Ships are major capital investments, that
need competent and steady expertise, to maintain optimal
performance from machinery and its personnel.
Strong partners in an enterprise’s success
Total Shipboard Engineering Crew Solution
Blue Riband provide Marine Engineering professionals, for
their client vessel’s shipboard operational needs.
Benefits to ship operators for this arrangement include...
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Consistent, predictable costs and services
Skilled and motivated workforce
Future engineering supply management and development
Reduced bureaucracy and office staff costs
Reduced training cost
Shore side technical support
Blue Riband provides Marine Engineering professionals for
short term shore side technical needs.
For instance
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Capital project support
Accident investigation
Technical procedures development
Special training objectives and training facilities
Clients have access to strong expertise base, for audits and
assessments of technical processes
Current Clients
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Canada Steamship Line – Great Lakes bulker
BC Ferries – Passenger Ferries
Atlantic Towing – Tug and Offshore
SMIT Marine Canada - Tugs
Oceanex – General Cargo
Marine Atlantic – Passenger Ferries
Algoma – Great Lakes Bulker and Tankers
Clients – BC Ferries
Blue Riband provides all necessary engineering officers for the Spirit of
Vancouver Island, at any time. The SOVI is just one vessels under contract.
The officers are familiarized to that class of vessel, and are competent in its
systems, on top of having being vetted for regulatory conformity.
BC Ferries no longer needs to manage their pay and benefits. They no longer
have to recruit engineers, a time consuming and specialized task, or to
manage training requirements, required or optional.
They can focus on their customer’s needs, and achieve their business goals,
knowing that their capital investments, are well looked after by competent
personnel.
Engineering Cadets are the future,
yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Young engineer ought to be sailing, and be
in position of authority onboard, as soon as
competence is achieved and demonstrated.
Engineers must progress through all the
ranks at a steady rate.
More experienced engineers, need to be
mentors, and focusing on shore side
operations, not necessarily sailing.
Ship owners need the expertise to make
sound decisions, from experienced seagoing
engineers, not MBA and accountants.
A modern Marine Engineering career
 We have incentives and legislated
motivation for ship operators to provide
training berths aboard Canadian fleets
 Established working relationships with
deep sea companies “Engineering Farming”
 Provide oversight and support to training
centers and engineering schools
 Embrace information sharing
 Established mentoring program
 Positive outlook on integration of foreign
trained engineers – Immigration liaison
support
 Networking with training and licensing
authorities world wide
 Participating in regulatory input such as
IMO Expert Working Groups, Transport
Canada (CMAC, etc.), Class, etc.
 Annual skills upgrading for Partners
 Blue Riband operates its own training
center, “one stop shop” with on site
accommodations
 Active in establishing and disseminating
“Best Practices”
Blue Riband champions Marine Engineering
and seafaring causes
 Equitable income tax scheme for Canadian
foreign going seafarers
 Active recognition of seafarer rights such as
Shore Leave, Communication access, etc.
 Outreach to seafarer welfare organizations
 Industry wide strategic government
policies
 Active Transport Canada role in regulation
enforcement
 Support for positive industry initiatives
Blue Riband is the sole authority delegated by the Government of Canada,
Minister of Transport, to examine and certify Marine Engineers across
Canada, according to its international obligations and standards.
Complete modernizing of Canada engineering examination and
licensing system was undertaken, independently verified by Class.
 To accepted IMO standards
 Consistent with leading seafaring nations
 Designed for positive success
 Real objectives, not “pie in the sky” ideals
 Streamlined for users
 Clear and predictable path
License Structure
No re-invention of the
wheel. Same license
structure that is common
worldwide, and have all
grown accustom to.
Standardized License Examination Process
Applicable to all license levels.
Tangible benefits for Blue Riband
partners
 Daily pay rate
 Day for day, month on
month off rotation
 Full suite of benefits from a self
funded plan
 Life insurance
 Defined contribution retirement
plan
 Paid travel – door to door
 Paid training and upgrading
 Legal protection and license
insurance
Non monetary benefits for
Blue Riband partners
 Sustainable, family friendly
career
 Participation in your future
 Clear career path
 Vetted ships
 Change ships without changing
companies
 Job outlook predictable
 Surrounded by professional
peers
 Progressive and positive
atmosphere
 Decreased anxiety, less stress,
 Better life quality
How to become a
Blue Riband Partner
Who can be a partner
• New engineering cadets
• Immigrant engineers
• Licensed engineers
• Naval Engineers
• Related Experience
professionals
1. Application
• Certification Assessment
• Experience Assessment
• Reference Checks
2. Interview for suitability
• English skills
• Technology skills
• Free form discussion
3. Simulator “Stress Test” for
seagoing positions
4. Probationary Period for 6
months
5. Junior Partner for one year
6. Full Partner
Consistent quality is the objective.
Quality means that work is performed
in varying conditions, by various
people, but results will be consistent
and can be planned on.
Having a process to plan and evaluate
tasks with efficiencies in mind, but to
gauge these against long term goals of
sustainability, under the overarching
umbrella of safely carrying out tasks.
Predictable results in every action
taken.
Fact based decision making principals
 ABC – Above and Beyond Compliance
 Continuous training and upgrading is
the cornerstone – give people the
confidence through education.
 Challenging the status quo and inviting
innovating ideas.
 Testing by pushing people out of their
comfort zones where practical
(simulator / sandbox).
 Strong and inclusive decision making
process.
 Transparency
 Active oversight, intrinsically built into
the processes.
 Third party oversight
Blue Riband is ISO 9001:2008 standards
certified.
The purpose is not only in attaining
certification to satisfy clients, but to the
fundamental commitment of Blue
Riband to constant improvements in the
delivery of services to our clients,
stakeholders and partners.
Decision making process is open,
transparent, and inclusive of the
stakeholders.
Three partners minimum involved
in procedural, standards setting,
and disciplinary decision.
Additional votes is provided to
stake holder, such as Transport
Canada, Class or other Quality
Assurance representative.
Additional votes is provided to
clients representative.
BRight Idea Program
An internal Blue Riband success program that solicits, analyses, and
champions new ideas, brought forth by any Partners, to improve the Quality
and Efficiency of Blue Riband.
A group of Partners meet monthly, to discuss new ideas and suggestions, and
present course of action on operational implementation.
Blue Riband improves its services, Blue Riband contributing Partner rewarded
with cash or other tangible benefit. Success !
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To improve the Marine Engineering profession by making it a credible
and sustainable career choice from the start of a career.
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To modernize licensing standards and remove careers roadblocks.
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To get Marine Engineers in control of their profession.
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To increase training and match it to actual needs = increase quality
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To pool resources from ship operators in order to assure them a reliable
supply of trained Marine Engineers, at sea and on shore, licensed to
modern worldwide standards, far into the future.
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Stabilizing affect on the transient tendencies of the workforce
Increased supply of experienced technical personal ashore
Stabilizing affect on wages at sea and ashore
Equalizing of “western” expertise representation at IMO
Younger workforce at sea
Sustainable career path for technical people
Predictable cadet intake, matching more realistic needs rather than
marketer’s predictions
Increased technology transfer into Canadian industry from “deep sea”
By consequence
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More adaption of technology
Increased safety and reliability
Increased production
Decreased environmental footprint
Increased export of Canadian expertise
Better work / life balance – quality of life
Peace and harmony…
The goal is to make Blue Riband a model - a standard in itself exportable to different countries.
Australia with similar
challenges potential adoptee of
model, possibly South Africa,
Venezuela.
Countries with important
maritime needs, but suffering
from fractured maritime policies.
More, online…
www.blueriband.ca
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Legallese
Bureaucracy
Cost / Seed money
Spearheading organization
Maritime community adoption
Deck side concern
Job of Unions, Government and Companies
Selling a Marine Engineering career
Current reality of Marine Engineering career
A modern Marine Engineering career
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Love beer
Are “frugal”
Engineers are self
confident people
Make do, and adapt easily
Work independently
Work out of the “limelight”
Tenacious and passionate
Creative
= Problems
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Spread the word
Interest from community
Identify champion organization
High level discussion with Transport Canada
Investigate interest from Ship-owners
Where do Unions stand on this
?