A Warsash cadet has been awarded a national prize for his safety project
Andrew Kingshott, a Foundation Degree Marine Engineering Cadet studying at Warsash Maritime Academy, was presented with the first prize for his project ‘The International Identification of Oxygen Depletive Areas and Entry’ at the British Shipping Safety Awareness Awards.
Andrew Kingshott (left) is presented with his award
The awards are open to officer cadets and trainee ratings in the merchant navy, and invite entrants to create an original safety idea, with realistic industry potential, which would lead to improvements in any aspect of health and safety at sea.
Andrew’s winning scheme looked at enclosed spaces on board ships, where there is limited air ventilation and which can cause suffocation. He wanted to ensure a safety procedure was put in place for anyone speaking any language to easily identify the enclosed spaces.
Currently there are verbal warnings, but Andrew proposed a system of different coloured doorways and hatches for enclosed spaces on board ships, to create a warning that is identifiable in all languages.
The 24-year-old’s proposal included an alarm system to warn of unauthorised access to an enclosed space.
Andrew said: “I felt fantastic and really chuffed to get the award. I was really surprised. It was totally out of the blue.”
As part of his award there was a cash prize for him and the college which John Bazley, Head of School of Professional Studies, collected on behalf of the academy.
Mr Bazley said of Andrew’s award: “We are extremely proud of Andrew’s success in this competition and very much hope that his ideas will be adopted in order to enhance safety at sea.”
The prize giving ceremony took place at the UK Chamber of Shipping and was hosted by the UK Chamber’s Director-General Mark Brownrigg. The prizes were presented by Captain Ian McNaught, Deputy Master of Trinity House – the company that sponsored the event.