A young man who’s been taken on full time at the Port of London Authority (PLA) is proving that apprenticeships work.
Charlie Henry, 20, jumped at the chance to forge a career for himself three years ago and says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. After recently being made a full-time assistant building tradesperson with the Port of London Authority, Charlie thinks anyone who’s wondering what to do with their future could not do any better than take up an apprenticeship.
In this, the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week, the government is encouraging more people to choose them as a fast track to a great career.
Charlie, from Rochester, Kent, said: “Having left school I worked in an office for a year but it wasn’t for me so I applied for the apprenticeship with the PLA. I’d been wondering what to do, and when I found this opportunity online it sounded ideal.”
When Charlie started the three-year apprenticeship, he did four days a week on-the-job training as well as a course at college on the other day – getting himself an NVQ 2 in building maintenance.
He continues to learn vital skills working in PLA operation on the river and ashore. He has now got himself more qualifications at MidKent College in Maidstone, including a NVQ Level 3 in Built Environment. His duties include maintenance, carpentry, plumbing and a wide range of other jobs.
“I love working here and everyone’s been so supportive from the start. I’m always picking up new skills because there are so many people to learn from. There’s nothing better in a job than being able to learn from people who have a load of knowledge and experience. If I knew someone who was about 16 who was looking for a job, I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship.”
The PLA has a long association with apprenticeships. Several of its current workers, joined as part of an apprenticeship system that’s since evolved. They have gone on to shape long and successful careers with the authority, working as marine services managers and even the harbour master for the Thames through central London.
Two other apprentices are currently working at the PLA, one in marine engineering and the other in electrical engineering. Although the age and academic qualifications needed to take on an apprenticeship vary, PLA apprentices are usually around 16 years old with good GCSE results. Two more apprentices will be taken on this year.
PLA civil engineer Derek Maynard, and Charlie’s department manager, said:
”Charlie’s working very well and we were more than pleased to take him on full time. He’s a very bright lad and has a solid future in the PLA. Apprenticeships work well for people because they come in and learn vital skills ‘on the job’ while learning the theory and academic side of things from their studies.”
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Enquiries:
Gareth Dorrian - Corporate affairs writer
E:gareth.dorrian@pla.co.uk, P: 01474 562 251, M: 07711 640 099
E:gareth.dorrian@pla.co.uk, P: 01474 562 251, M: 07711 640 099
Notes:
- The PLA works to ensure navigational safety along the tidal Thames, sharing its marine, environmental, planning and other expertise to promote use of the river and safeguard its unique marine environment.
- The tidal Thames is one of the UK’s busiest waterspaces and is home to the country’s second biggest port by tonnage of goods handled.
@londonportauth
About the PLA's Pilotage Service
The PLA Pilotage Department ensures the effective and economic provision of pilotage services within the London Pilotage District 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Port has four main approach channels and the Pilots must be expert on all of these areas. When boarding vessels heading in to or out of the Port they take with them the very latest information on local conditions, weather, Vessel Traffic operations and movements, reporting requirements and potential hazards. With their detailed knowledge of the River and its depths and tidal currents, PLA Pilots therefore play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the Port of London. They also have a huge input into planning for the demands of the future.All PLA Pilots hold an STCW Class 1 Master's Certificate. In a carefully integrated operation they work closely with the Duty Port Controller in the PLA's Port Control Centre (PCC). All Duty Port Controllers are fully qualified PIlots who combine duties in Port Control with their normal pilotage duties.
Today's trends suggest that the size of ships being handled will continue to increase. PLA Pilots are now successfully conducting certain ships stern first into the lock at Port of Tilbury in tidal conditions which would otherwise make access inadvisable.
Twelve specialist River Pilots work in the stretch of the Thames between Gravesend and London Bridge. Three of these are Bridge Pilots who work from London Bridge to Putney Bridge where expertise on the shallower water and low air draughts is vital, particularly for awkward one-off project type cargoes.
These manoeuvres have been studied, developed and practised using the PLA's Ship Bridge Simulator, which has more than proved its worth since being installed at the Gravesend Port Control Centre in 2003. As well as being used for routine and refresher training of Pilots, thus removing the need for them to travel elsewhere for such training, the simulator is vital to the PLA's plans for the future. The ability to exactly replicate the varying tide, wind and visibility conditions of the River Thames means that it can be used to prove the viability of proposed new berths and to train Pilots on new facilities in the Port.
A planned mid-life upgrade of the simulator was undertaken in 2006 and this provided even more realism and increased useability. It is also now available (by arrangement) for some third-party use.
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Boarding and landing of Pilots takes place from Sheerness, Ramsgate, Harwich and Gravesend. The pilot cutters at Sheerness and Ramsgate are purpose-built craft operated by Estuary Services Ltd (ESL) which is a joint partnership between the PLA and Medway Ports. Boarding and landing services at Harwich are provided by the Harwich Haven Authority and for operations at Gravesend the PLA uses its own cutter ‘Patrol’ or the multi-purpose harbour service lLaunch/pilot cutter ‘Benfleet’. All PLA Pilots are equipped with personal locator beacons so, if the worst happened and a Pilot fell into the water while attempting to board or leave a ship, the beacon's signal would be activated and the Pilot will be quickly located and rescued by the pilot cutter or other rescue vessel.
A system of Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PEC) is operated by the PLA for ships' senior officers who are regular callers at the Port. The process of issuing these Certificates involves intensive assessment of each case. About 250 PECs were in force at the end of 2006.
For more information, click on the links below:
- A brief history of pilotage on the Thames
- How to order a Pilot
- Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs)
Click here to read an article about the PLA's Pilotage operations.
Film: The Work of a Pilot on the Tidal Thames
Watch our film, The Work of a Pilot on the Tidal Thames where Pilot Jon Stafford talks about his work and the challenges of guiding large ships safely into and out of the Port of London.
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