Maritime & Coastguard Agency -Safer ships and cleaner seas

My name is Katy Ware. I’m the current director of Maritime Safety and Standards for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). I joined the MCA in 1999 as a surveyor working in Southampton. It was an exciting time for me as I was overseeing the building of new passenger Ro-Ro ferries. I went on to be the lead surveyor for the refit and major conversion of a number of large passenger vessels.

What we do as surveyors matters. When passengers step on board a ferry or a cruise ship, they should have confidence that all is as it should be. And when you remember the UK relies on the maritime industry to bring in 95% of its goods, it’s important to make sure those ships are up to the standard they need to be.

It was a big moment for me when I became the deputy head of the inspection branch at the MCA. I helped guide, advise and support fellow surveyors and represented the UK at technical meetings of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control matters.

The MCA’s also given me the opportunity to build a whole new set of personal skills. I genuinely never thought that when I joined as a surveyor, I’d eventually head up a whole department of surveyors and port state control officers, technical policy officials, legal and economic advisors and administrative support staff.

I also sit on the MCA’s senior management, representing the voice of survey and inspection across the whole work of the Agency. It’s a role which makes a difference at a very high level. It’s hard work and a responsibility that I take very seriously and feel privileged to have my opinion both heard and valued.

I am also the permanent representative of the UK to the International Maritime Organization. It’s so important for us as an agency and the UK as a whole to have a voice in the maritime world. It’s an opportunity I probably would not have had without joining the MCA.

I’m proud to work for the MCA and I’m proud to feel that I play my part in its work to bring about safer lives, safer ships, cleaner seas.

If you’re interested in becoming a Marine Surveyor click here!

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