About us

About us

Did you know? The Workboat Association was formed in 1994, to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2019; the association changed its name from the National Workboat Association to simply ‘The Workboat Association’ to fit with its most recent form and objectives. Today the WA provides to a growing industry of workboat Owners, Operators, Stakeholders and independent Professionals from within the UK and spread across the globe. Our Membership now incorporates over +150 Workboat Owners, Operators, Stakeholders and individual Professionals (covering over 650 vessels) from in and outside the UK. Our scope now offers to collaborate with all industry stakeholders, who are either working in the UK, to UK regulations or those aiming to benchmark their own standards of practice to a well adopted, respected and understood level – as we promote.

Proudly, the Workboat Association has made commitments to key industry collaborative groups. For example: International Maritime Contractors Association (IMCA), the Maritime Skills Alliance, the International Institute of Marine Surveying, the Aquaculture and Offshore Wind Safety Groups (ASG and G+ respectively). In 2021, the Workboat Association was accepted into the Maritime UK ‘National Council’, the collective voice for the UK’s maritime industries. This important strategical alliance provides both our UK members and International members with direct links to the UKs Government, with this new opportunity we aim to steer the future of the UK’s Maritime relationships and strategies proactively at the source.

“Don’t forget to both add us on Linkedin and subscribe for our free newsletter on the bottom of our website homepage!”

­­­Events and Workgroups

Regular annual events include:

4 x Safety Forums per year organised by the association to share industry awareness and improve safety standards throughout the industry.

4 x Training Workgroup meetings, where we discuss opportunities linked to Maritime Training and certification, develop new/reviewed trainings and steer regulators on training frameworks.

4 X Technical Workgroup meetings, to share interest and opportunities in relation to technology developments and advancements, environmental impact and vessel sustainability, and to proactively guide the supply chain

6 X Crew Transfer Workgroup meetings, this is a group specifically looking into the challenges and best practices associated with the transfer of personnel and their equipment.

And 2 x big events per year – The Seawork boat show, and the Workboat Association AGM event.

Plus additional campaigns, training events and joint projects/ seminars.

 

Membership

Membership is split into 2 main categories:

(Full Members subscriptions are based on the number of UK Coded Workboats only, vessel owners not owning any UK coded vessels are welcome to join as a Corporate Member). 

Full Members

£103.50 annually per coded vessel under 15m, up to a maximum of 10 vessels

£247.50 annually per coded vessel over 15m, up to a maximum of 15 vessels

 

Corporate Members

Yearly membership subscription £800

 

Individual Members

Yearly membership subscription £75

Who we are:

Officers

Kerrie Forster

Chief Executive Officer

Jacqui Bruce

Treasurer / Administration

Anna Saunders

Workgroup Support Officer

Danielle Metcalfe

Communications Officer

Mark Meade

Honorary President

Holyhead Towing Company

Committee

Richard Brooks

Chairman

Williams Shipping

David McNaughton

Committee Member

Seafast Maritime

Josh Metcalf

Committee Member

Carmet Marine

Willem van der Wel

Committee Member

Windcat Workboats

Chris Floyd

Committee Member

Scottish Sea Farms

Steve Hills

Committee Member

Serco

Bert de Ruiter

Committee Member

Acta Marine

Matthew Winney

Committee Member

SMS Towage

Training Workgroup

Gareth Bonner

co-Chairman

Svitzer

Simon Gutherless

co-Chairman

SMS Towage

Safety Forum

Mike Proudlove

co-Chairman

Offshore Turbine Services

Shaun Mansbridge

co-Chairman

Williams Shipping

Technical Workgroup

Andy Page

Chairman

Chartwell Marine

Crew Transfer Workgroup

Willem van der Wel

Chairman

Windcat Workboats