Maritime and Coastguard Agency CEO awarded Honorary Fellowship

by Samantha Sinclair / MCA on 16 Aug 2017 Vice Admiral and Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Sir Alan Massey has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN). The highly-coveted accolade was presented to Sir Alan by the Royal Institute of Navigation’s Patron, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, at the Institute’s Annual Meeting held in London last month on 18 July.

Sir Alan received the Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his and the MCA’s close and continuing engagement with the Royal Institute of Navigation. “Sir Alan Massey is widely and highly respected for his maritime leadership. Sir Alan has built strong links between the MCA and the Royal Institute of Navigation” said John Pottle, Director, Royal Institute of Navigation. “These linkages have been beneficial to many individuals and groups in both the MCA and RIN. We are delighted to recognise Sir Alan’s leadership and contribution through the award of Honorary Fellowship of the RIN.”

Under Sir Alan’s leadership, the MCA’s Navigation Safety group leads on marine navigational policy, standards and services on behalf of the UK. In recent years this remit has expanded to include maritime access, in addition to an already impressive portfolio of interests including civil hydrography, marine meteorology, maritime radio communications, maritime autonomous surface ships, maritime surveillance and vessel traffic management.

Consistently innovating to support safe and effective navigational decision-making, as well as the MCA’s commitment to Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas; today the MCA’s Navigation Safety group is regarded as one of the best in the world, particularly in relation to their work around civil hydrography, port marine safety and maritime radio communications. Led by André Cocuccio, Assistant Director - Navigation Safety, the group’s forward look centers around the “de-risking of UK waters through the provision of contemporary, evidence-based marine navigational guidance, standards and services to a technologically evolving maritime industry.”

Sir Alan, who has been the CEO for the MCA since 2010 and achieved the rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy said: “I’m extremely honoured to have been invited to become part of the eminent group of RIN Honorary Fellows. The RIN and the MCA share a common purpose in setting high standards for navigational precision and safety. We are both similarly intent on embracing new techniques and technologies to assist in that purpose. This prestigious, generous award reflects positively on our long-standing, collaborative relationship. I am both delighted and humbled to receive it on the Agency’s behalf, as we continue to work closely with the RIN into the future”.