'Disturbing and dangerous' problem for Royal Fleet Auxiliary as vital apprenticeships could be scrapped
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The RMT union believes this development could cause problems with recruitment and retention within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Essential apprenticeships which train prospective naval support sailors could be scrapped in a blow to staffing levels.
Concerns have been raised about the government’s plans to remove training schemes for seafarer Ratings in the maritime industry, which impacts the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). General secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Eddie Dempsey, said it would be extremely short-sighted to cut the roles without alternative provision.
“We are raising this disturbing and dangerous development with ministers, some of whom clearly don’t understand the importance of the maritime supply chain to our economy and to our national security,” he added.
The decision would impact the commercial shipping sector and the RFA. RFA sailors are civilians who are mainly deployed alongside the Royal Navy to extend their reach at sea. Seafarers are tasked with providing engineering and other expertise, while their ships maintain military deployments by supplying munitions, food, water, fuel, spare parts and other equipment.
Despite not being in the serving military, RFA sailors are vital for the smooth running of operations and can be stationed in some of the most dangerous environments in the world. Keeping enough people in the force is a challenge the government is grappling with due to wages, staff shortages, and lack of training opportunities at sea.
The RMT union designed the Deck Rating apprenticeship alongside government and the RFA. Several maritime colleges and employers use this apprenticeship to maintain a supply of new Ratings to the industry. The union estimates that over 600 people have been trained using this pathway.
Mr Dempsey added: “Cutting the Deck Rating Apprenticeship would reward the likes of P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries and operators in the offshore wind supply chain who crew their vessels with exploited international crew, undercutting progressive employers who train and employ local seafarers. Trade unions and employers support this apprenticeship – we should be improving standards and increasing the uptake of maritime apprenticeships not cutting them.
“That is why we need comprehensive maritime apprenticeships to benefit national security and coastal communities that are crying out for decent jobs. Seafarer apprenticeships should be the bedrock of our island economy and national security, not an optional extra.”
The RMT added that the RFA is contending with a shortage of Deck Ratings, who are trained at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall. It’s believed that Skills England have earmarked this and other maritime apprenticeships for retirement due to a lack of uptake.
No official decision is expected until this autumn. The RMT union has written to skills minister, Baroness Smith of Malvern, offering to lead a delegation of employers - including the RFA - to avoid a sudden withdrawal.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is engaging with the Merchant Navy Training Board and Skills England as part of the consultation on the Deck Rating Apprenticeship. We are committed to developing the skilled workforce needed to deliver operations worldwide and will continue to ensure all training pathways meet Maritime and Coastguard Agency standards.”