Hull Trinity House Nautical College Launches its new powerboat to a crowd of distinguished guests

As the region strives to attract suitably trained personnel into the maritime industry, Hull Trinity House Nautical College has been able to purchase and restore a 8.3 metre hard sided rib vessel in order to train students in the many areas of maritime studies. A gratefully received donation from Hull Trinity House, along with a successful grant application from Trinity House London meant that a suitable vessel could be bought and restored with the latest navigation and communications equipment being installed.

On Wednesday 20 November at 10am the training vessel was officially named, TH London and blessed by Rev Tony Cotson. The vessel was then able to show off its attributes with David Forth, Head of Maritime Studies who took some guests on a trip down the river putting TH London through its paces. It was a memorable sight to see and quite emotional for some of the guests who remember a time when Hull was at the forefront of maritime training.

Nathan Goodman, head of the nautical college said, “This is a massive asset to our training and education offering as we look to broaden our offerings to students and businesses alike. We already offer structured pathways aimed for either deck, engineering or shore based roles and this new vessel means our trainees can see first-hand what it’s like to operate, maintain and look after TH London, whilst gaining industry recognised qualifications. Our pre-cadetships and marine engineering courses will all benefit from using this vessel, which will sit alongside our additional powerboat The Carolein.”

Rear Admiral David Snelson (from Trinity House London and former master of the Arc Royal) was delighted to attend the naming ceremony and even impressed the crowd as he took to the helm of TH London for a successful and memorable trip on the river.

Thanks go to ABP Hull, Trinity House London, Hull Trinity House, Delta Academies Trust, the many guests who braved the cold weather and those businesses that continue to offer support. We appreciate everything you do!

The College was formally opened by HRH Princess Anne in November 2017 and provides post 16 education for students wanting to embark on a maritime career be that on the water or shore based. Further course details can be found at www.hthacademy.org.uk/post-16