“The Apprentices – I spent a lot of time talking to them. Having developed and run training I know hard it is to ‘teach’ people. They need to want to ‘learn’ - yours do!"
- John Haynes – Managing Director, Shock mitigation
"Congratulations on another great day . . . . . The guys from MEEMA told me they were really impressed!"
- Rod Boreham – Managing Director, Advance yacht Systems Ltd
The British Marine Electrical & Electronic Association held one of their largest and most successful conferences at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton on
the 15th October.
The Chairman, Derek Gilbert, opened the Conference by welcoming the speakers and special guests, including Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine; he also thanked the Event Sponsors, especially Victron Energy as Headline Sponsors of this year's event and welcomed a group of apprentices, invited to join the conference and to participate in a competition during the day.
The general theme of the day was biased towards environmentally friendly technologies and training support for apprentices Delegates were treated to a wide range of subject matters including presentations from John Haynes of Shock Mitigation, introducing latest developments in Hybrid Power utilisation in marine vessels, Marine Electronic Interfacing and its future presented by Phil Whitehurst of Actisense and an 'Overview of Marine Electrical Apprenticeship Standards' presented by Ulrika Lawrence of British Marine Training.
After lunch, Ross Wombwell, British Marine Technical Manager briefed the conference on updates to ISO standards relevant to the leisure marine market and the impact of Brexit on CE marked products. This was followed by James Scott-Anderson of British Marine Environment presenting environmental issues which need to be addressed by the leisure marine industry. Ross completed the presentations with an update on 'The World Sailing launch challenge 2024'.
The formal section of the Conference was followed by the Association's AGM – which then opened up to a round table discussion by all delegates identifying how best to promote the professionalism, qualification, training and the quality of BMEEA members specifically to boat owners.
Concurrent with the main conference during the afternoon was an apprentice’s competition in which teams from RNLI, Sunseeker, Berthon Boats and Dolphin Marine completed an electrical technical task. The eventual winning team, in a close-run competition, being Joshua Ross and Kian Cotterill-Clark of Berthon Boats. Both Joshua and Kian received toolkits presented by Ian Lewis of Weidmuller as part of their award as well as receiving the trophy sponsored by Navico and presented by Lesley Robinson.
The day was rounded off with presentations of awards for BMEEA's 'Product of the Year', the BMEEA's 'Dealer/Installer of the Year', the BMEEA 'Newly Certificated Electrical Technician of the Year' and BMEEA's 'Newly Certificated Electronic Technician of the Year.
Apprentice Competition
Joshua Ross and Kian Cotterill-Clark
Running concurrently to the main conference during the afternoon was an apprentice’s competition in which several teams completed an electrical technical task. The eventual team winners of a close competition being Joshua Ross and Kian Cotterill-Clark of the Berthon Boat Company.
Both Joshua and Fred received tool packs as part of their award as well as receiving the trophy, both of which sponsored by Weidmuller and presented by Ian Lewis from Weidmuller.
The day was rounded off with presentations of awards for BMEEA’s ‘Product of the Year’, the BMEEA’s ‘Dealer/Installer of the Year, the BMEEA ‘Newly Certificated Electrical Technician of the Year’ and BMEEA’s ‘Newly Certificated Electronic Technician of the Year:
Newly Certificated Electrical Technician of the Year
Scott Simpson
The 'Newly Certificated Electrical Technician of the Year' was awarded to Scott Simpson of STS Electrical by (on the right) David Payne of Fischer Panda UK Ltd, the company that sponsors this award
Newly Certificated Electronic Technicians of the Year
Chris Orchard & Connor Moore
The 'Newly Certificated Electronic technicians of the Year' being presented with the trophies. There is actually only one trophy but both these technicians scored 100% in their MEI courses and they are taken here by, L to R Chris Orchard, Connor Moore and presented by Derek Gilbert of Raymarine UK Ltd and Chairman of BMEEA. As Connor Moore was unable to attend, his trophy was taken here on his behalf by Peter Harwood.
Both the winners are from Princess Yachts International Sales/Service
Dealer\Installer of the Year
Rowlands Marine Electronics
The 'Dealer/Installer of the Year', presented here on the right by by Derek Gilbert of Raymarine UK Ltd to Ian Loffhagen of Rowlands Marine Electronics
Product of the Year
Advance Yacht Systems Ltd -
Frigomar BLDC Inverter Drive Variable Speed Air Conditioning
The winner of the 'Product of the Year' award was Advance Yacht Systems Ltd for their Frigomar BLDC Inverter Drive Variable Speed Air Conditioning. The award is sponsored by Boating Business and on the right is Katina Read, Editor, to Rod Boreham of Advance Yacht Systems Ltd
BMEEA Chairman Derek Gilbert commented that he was delighted that the Conference had been so well received, the variety and quality of presentations provided thought for all delegates and it was very rewarding to see so many apprentices join the event and participate in the competition.