Bermuda Maritime Academy

(BdaMA)

2022

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 Mission and Vision

❖ Mission:

To focus on all aspects of the maritime environment including research, protection and utilisation, with our initial
priority being the facilitation of resources and pathways for Bermudians seeking to pursue maritime careers - from high
performance sailing to commercial opportunities.

❖ Vision:

To facilitate the promotion, economic appreciation, conservation and protection of Bermuda’s marine environment
by; (1) fostering new and advancement of marine careers, and (2) revitalising the appreciation, learning and opportunities
within Bermuda’s maritime industry and activity.

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 Key Objectives

1) Develop pathways for Bermudians seeking and advancing their Maritime careers;

2) Identify and develop strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, to coordinate existing and future
resources and opportunities;

3) Develop pathways for Bermudians seeking to pursue international high performance sailing careers

4) Promote coordination, protection, knowledge, research and conservation of Bermuda’s Marine environment;

5) Facilitate improved efficiency and donor fund efficiency of Maritime charitable organisations.

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 Initial Objective

Develop pathways for Bermudians seeking and advancing their maritime careers

The first part of BdaMA’s strategy focuses on broadening the delivery of specific maritime training
courses, built on international standards and requirements. Some of these courses will be a legal
requirement for commercial boat owners within the current year and yet, currently there is no
facility for attending such courses in Bermuda.
The education element of the Maritime Academy is our first priority, and one of five core areas of
focus.
The courses are designed for:
- new entrants seeking professional careers in maritime services,
- existing maritime professionals (Marine & Ports staff), and
- Commercial leisure boat owners and operators
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 Who We Are – Founding Organisers
The Hon. Michael J. Winfield, Mario Thompson is the Pilot Alan E Burland, MBE, represented
MBE, JP, served as the CEO and Warden at the Bermuda Department Bermuda in sailing at 1984 Olympic
Director of the America’s Cup of Marine & Ports Services. Mr. Games. Government of Bermuda Athlete of
Bermuda. Mr. Winfield is a tourism Thompson is active in helping the Year 1985. Recognized by HRH Queen
industry veteran, starting his career at young Bermudians to enter careers Elizabeth in 2011 and 2017 for service to
the Southampton Princess and on the sea. For Pilot Warden Mario the community. Co-Founder Bermuda
eventually retiring in 2012 as the Thompson, “coaching and Sloop Foundation 1998. Mr. Burland is a
President and CEO of Cambridge mentoring young seafarers through civil engineer (MBE, P.Eng,) with
Beaches Resort and Spa. Mr. Marine and Ports is a chance to extensive experience in commercial
Winfield served as a Minister and reconnect Bermudians with their construction, development, renewable
Senator under the United Bermuda maritime heritage.” energy, sustainability. He has also served on
Party where he held several numerous Government Boards and
portfolios. He successfully led the Committees. 
Bermuda bid team to host the
35thAmerica’s Cup Bermuda Maritime Academy
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Current Board of Directors of Bermuda Maritime Academy:

Alan Burland (Vice Chair)

Angelique Burgess
Victoria Greening
Preston Hutchings
Francis Richardson
Henrik Schroeder (Treasurer)
Mario Thompson
Michael Winfield (Chair)

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 Current State of Affairs
Based on its geographic and strategic location, Bermuda has a unique and rich history associated with maritime activities. Now is the
time to build on this legacy, to create an accredited learning environment around the maritime professions.

Here are some anecdotal points of reference:

❖Awareness - Maritime careers are not optimally promoted/prioritised/recognised as opportunities for individual and community
wealth, sustainability and growth. Courses offered are not in line with international standards, and not scheduled and consistently
offered.

❖Fragmentation - Maritime activity is concentrated among numerous organisations and groups for their own specific uses and
objectives with limited collaboration and coordination.

❖Evidentiary - AC35 demonstrated the interest in and the benefits to Bermuda of executing a focused, collaborative and coordinated
approach to developing maritime opportunities that can be capitalised and sustained. Since the America’s Cup, the interest in
maritime activities and careers has increased. Sail GP has evidenced this renewed interest.

❖Opportunity - There is a worldwide shortage of English-speaking commercial mariners.

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 Phase I – Accredited Courses and
Placement Support
To create sustainable education and employment opportunities for Bermudians, it starts with courses, licenses and
accreditation standards:

❑ Professional Training for Bermudian entrants and incumbents

✓ Providing the resources for accomplishing International accreditation and certification based on:

o Int’l Convention on Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (“STCW”)

o Int’l Maritime Organization (“IMO”)

o Royal Yachting Association (“RYA”)

o International Certificate of Competency (“ICC”)

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 Phase I – Accredited Courses and
Placement Support, cont.
✓ Creation and Implementation of local infrastructure to achieve Int’l Accreditation and Certification in
Bermuda:

o The Bermuda Shipping & Maritime Authority (BSMA) supports initiatives for this achievement as it expands its mandate
as a regulatory body to include business and economic development within Bermuda’s maritime industry.

o They will be spearheading efforts to introduce new marine legislation that will impact both commercial and leisure
boating regulations.

o International legislation is also forcing change to Bermuda’s marine infrastructure and the way we govern and regulate
Bermuda’s waters. New Triple I Code requires seamen to re-certify starting in 2020.

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 Phase I – Accredited Courses and
Placement Support, cont.
✓ Coordination and implementation of a seamless pathway for Bermudian students for education and career
opportunities at:

oLower Primary Levels – Ancillary educators for further education of Bermuda’s Maritime history (e.g. BEN)

oUpper Primary + Secondary Levels – Marine excursions and expeditions (e.g. Endeavour + Bermuda Sloop)

oSecondary + Post-Secondary – Marine excursions, expeditions and employment (e.g. Bermuda Sloop)

oYoung Adult + Career Advancement – Expeditionary Learning (e.g. eleducation.org)

❑ Create and Maintain the “Bermuda Standard” for Marine Safety + Skills for Local Commercial + Recreational
Operators

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 Phase I – Partnerships

❖ One of our core operating guidelines is to maximise efficiency, to ensure best use of every dollar invested. Accordingly,
we will seek to establish partnerships, both locally and internationally, with existing organisations that currently provide
elements of what is required for our training, or which are amenable to incorporating these new training modules, or
providing facilities or other required assets.

❖ By utilising existing resources locally, we can engage a wide cross section of our community and save money,
resources, and time to market.

❖ While our long-term goal is to enable Bermudians to train and achieve accreditation as course trainers and/or
examiners for the courses, initially we will import the needed resources (but only for the specific periods the courses are
being delivered).

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 Phase I – Partnerships Cont.
❖ Late in 2021, the Maritime Academy realised the scope of requirements to satisfy the Maritime Coast Guard Agency of
the UK (MCA) was considerable and decided experienced help would be required.
❖ After an extensive search, principals of the Maritime Academy reached out and established contact with Mr. Alfie
Hincks, Principal and Founder of Seascope Maritime Training of Liverpool and France.
❖ Seascope Maritime Training has been in operation since 2004 in the UK offering a range of STCW training courses to
the highest maritime standards.  Seascope holds accreditation from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (MCA) under
the UK Department of Transport.
❖ The team at Seascope was set up by Alfie Hincks, when he decided to leave his own career at sea and dedicate his life
to teaching safety courses to Seafarers. 
❖ Seascope has gained a solid reputation as a professional and dedicated training provider and the school in Liverpool
became one of the most popular in northern England, providing training over the years to thousands of Seafarers from
the commercial shipping sector. Alfie Hincks latter opened their second training facility in the South of France, located
in the centre of the old town of Antibes.  
❖ The Maritime Academy signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Seascope in February 2022. Seascope
have assisted the Maritime Academy in getting MCA certification. They will also provide trainers, assist in training
Bermuda trainers and work with the Maritime Academy to identify and deliver needed additional maritime training in
Bermuda through the Academy.
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 Phase I – Partnerships Cont.

Educational Commercial/ Associations Governmental/ Quango

Bermuda College Dolphin Quest Department of Marine & Ports

Bermuda Education Network Bermuda Maritime Museum Bermuda Shipping & Maritime
Authority
St John’s Ambulance BIOS/ BAMZ/ BUEI Bermuda Fire & Rescue
Bermuda Red Cross Bermuda Sloop Bermuda Coast Guard
Endeavour Ministry of Transport
Bermuda Stevedoring Non-Bermuda Maritime Authorities
Other Bermuda Maritime Charities/
Orgs

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 Phase I – Implementation
Courses to be offered
1)STCW Training + Certification: 3rd Quarter 2022
➢ Enabling Bermudians to embark on careers aboard commercial vessels;
➢ Establishing core facilities and leadership to provide STCW training and certification based in Bermuda
➢ Satisfying the demand created by international Regulations for all commercial boat operators to be certified
➢ Offering Recertification

2) Other International Marine Courses: 2023

➢ Triple I Code for 2020 Seafarers Recertification
➢ Offshore sea survival (Required by many international yacht races)

3)Leisure Boat Operators: Subject of discussion with Ministry of Transport

➢ Respond to clear and manifest need to provide basic knowledge and instruction to those seeking to operate marine vessels on
Bermuda’s waters. Work with local providers of marine insurance to provide incentives

4)Local Commercial Boat Operators: 2023

➢ Offer STCW courses to all who need certification
➢ Provide courses as dictated by Marine & Ports, including new categorisation. Effectively replaces the A B and C Pilots
licenses
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 Phase I – Local Market Size

Mariners Estimated numbers Comment

Bermuda Marine & Ports 100
Commercial Operators 360 Based on registered vessels
Commercial Fishermen 50 Estimated
Aspiring Career Applicants 20 Estimated per year
Private Boat Operators 9,500 Number of private boats
registered

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 Funding
• The Bermuda Maritime Academy is a NOT FOR PROFIT, locally registered
company.

To date, all funding has been provided by our Founding Sponsor members:
• Alan Burland
• Tom Butterfield
• Schroder Family
• Preston Hutchings

When courses are offered, participants will be charged and revenues raised,
over and above the costs of providing the courses will go towards realisation of
other Academy objectives.

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 SUMMARY, TODAY AND BEYOND

The Bermuda Maritime Academy

The Bermuda Maritime Academy has now achieved formal recognition from the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to offer
the five basic STCW courses, and refreshers, in Bermuda. This is a first for Bermuda. Other plans and initiatives for the near future
include:

• Discussing further maritime education needs with Ministry of Transport, Department of Marine & Ports, Bermuda Coast Guard
and other related entities with a view to evolving additional maritime focused educational/training opportunities.
• Promoting appreciation of Bermuda's maritime environment and welcome the opportunity to support and provide internationally
recognised maritime education in Bermuda, and to increase career opportunities in these fields to Bermudians and others, for
generations to come. Recognising the need for Bermuda to diversify its career offerings, provide information and focus on
maritime pursuits.
• Exploring avenues to make Bermuda’s waters, cleaner, safer and better utilised by fostering marine research, promoting marine
environmental initiatives, and lobby for safety focused regulation and legislation, providing leisure boat operators with education,
instruction and awareness.
• Establishing and promoting opportunities for Bermudian sailors to pursue high performance (Olympics, America’s Cup, Sail GP,
etc) sailing careers
• Working with other Bermuda marine related charities to assist, where possible, a collective approach to core goals and assist in
improving efficiency for sponsor dollars.
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