Warsash Maritime Academy
Encyclopedia
Warsash Maritime Academy (formerly Warsash Maritime Centre) is a maritime
training college and is part of Southampton Solent University
. The academy campus is just east of Southampton
aside the River Hamble
and Warsash
village. The college provides education, training, consultancy and research to the international shipping
and off-shore oil
industries. It is one of the United Kingdom's colleges responsible for the training of the British Merchant Navy. The courses on offer cover a wide range of maritime education and training from deck and engineer officer cadetships, including degree pathways, to senior officer certificates of competency, together with the associated safety training.
originated with the death of a Southampton wine merchant Henry Robinson Hartley, in 1850. He bequeathed £42,524 to the Southampton Corporation which they received some years later. After advice from the Secretary of the Department of Science
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
, it was decided that a School of Navigation should be set up, which would be fitting with the recent development of Southampton
as a great seaport. After the need to raise additional funds the school was eventually finished in 1902. It was granted university college
status and known as the Hartley Institute, based in South Hill in the city of Southampton.
In 1932 the school was expanded when it merged with the Gilchrist Navigation school. At that time the school was confined to preparing students for Board of Trade certificate examinations for Mate, Master and Extra Master. 51 students were taught at this time by only two staff. In 1934 the college expanded to accommodate day cadets and courses for civil air navigation. It was during this time that Captain Whalley Wakeford was appointed as head of the school. Residential cadet courses began in 1937 with cadets completing a sea preparatory course. By 1939 there were 19 cadets, 129 day students and 15 staff and the school has moved to a new home at South Stoneham House in Swaythling
where it remained until 1946.
During the Second World War the school remained open to train mariners. In 1940 all students and cadets had joined the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard). Courses continued to run despite bombing in the Southampton area. Cadets were still trained and additional courses were created for existing officers from the armed services and abroad, including some 60 free Polish
cadets. By 1942 the school had over 180 sea cadets in training and it was decided the school should be moved to a larger campus, which incorporated the existing HMS Tormentor operations base, just outside the village of Warsash
. At the request of the United States
a special navigation course was provided in 1945 for naval officers stationed in the United Kingdom
. By 1946 the entire school had moved to Warsash and included over 316 students and 32 staff (with the name of the college now officially recorded as the Southampton School of Navigation). In 1957 a new building programme at the college began (to replace the existing temporary WW2 structures). Three new residential blocks were created, as well as a refectory building and a new teaching block (including the Whalley Wakeford lecture theatre). One accommodation block Shackleton was finished in 1960 and won an RIBA
gold medal. By 1967 a new teaching block had again been constructed and the school was now offering tankers courses as well as Bsc
in Nautical Science.
In 1970 Whalley Wakeford, the schools long standing Director retired and the school removed itself from direct control of Southampton University. By 1978 the school had purchased additional grounds and had built a new fire
school, to provide professional firefighting skills to mariners. Additionally the use of the week based sea training out in the Solent also came to an end. Previously the college had its own small sized training vessels - Moyana (which, having won the Sail Training Association's first Tall Ships Race from Torbay to Lisbon in 1956 sank without loss of life on her return passage to the UK) and Halcyon which is now privately owned by Halcyon Yacht Charter. In 1986 the college went through a great change, when it merged with the Southampton College of Technology, meaning that for the first time engineers were trained on the same campus, as merchant navy deck officers. The school was renamed "Warsash Maritime College" and went through a period of building expansion which included a new pier, library and engineering block. It was not until the 1990s that the college would again change dramatically, when in 1996 some of the campus on the eastern side of Newtown road was sold to provide funds to provide a new model training facility. The manned model facility remains the only one in the United Kingdom
.
By the year 2000 the college had also built three new computer based training simulators. It was during this period that Warsash Maritime College merged with Southampton Solent University
to provide governmental sources of funding. The college was renamed Warsash Maritime Academy, which it is now known as today. The college now accommodates thousands of students throughout the year. Yearly cadets intakes follow two routes as set out by the MCA and are based on the Foundation Degree
or Higher National Diploma
Route. They specialise in either Deck Operations, Engineering or Electronics. The Academy also runs additional training courses, including specialist STCW
courses such as firefighting, sea survival and first aid. The Academy also continues to train officers up to the rate of Master Mariner
.
In April 2009, Warsash Maritime Academy announced their plans to move the internationally acclaimed manned model training facility from its current location in Marchwood, Southampton to Timsbury Lake near Romsey, Hampshire.
From 2011 mariners will gain vital ship handling training, on scale model vessels in conditions that emulate real-life maritime experiences, on the UK’s oldest existing reservoir. Using various ship models, berths, basins and channels on the new lake, a variety of port scenarios, canal transits and berthing operations can be simulated for the ships’ officers and pilots under training to practise their ship handling skills.
Complex and, in real life, potentially hazardous manoeuvres can be practised in complete safety in the manned models making them a key training tool for the shipping industry. Bringing 21st century maritime training to Timsbury Lake marks the beginning of a new chapter in Timsburys' history. The 9th century lake has over the years been a source of fish for the monks of Winchester, of water to drive a medieval water mill and the haunt of carp anglers.
Alumni are able to join The Warsash Association which has a fast-growing worldwide membership of 425 (February 2011) including overseas branches in Australia and New Zealand.
The Warsash Maritime Academy campus has the following facilities and simulators:
All phase 1 cadets are required to stay in either Blyth or Shackleton accommodation blocks; although some senior cadets in later phases may be required/able to move into one of the main student hall complexes at Southampton Solent University
.
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
training college and is part of Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
. The academy campus is just east of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
aside the River Hamble
River Hamble
The River Hamble is a river in Hampshire, England. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for some 7.5 miles through Botley, Bursledon and Swanwick before entering Southampton Water near Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash....
and Warsash
Warsash
Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club...
village. The college provides education, training, consultancy and research to the international shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
and off-shore oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
industries. It is one of the United Kingdom's colleges responsible for the training of the British Merchant Navy. The courses on offer cover a wide range of maritime education and training from deck and engineer officer cadetships, including degree pathways, to senior officer certificates of competency, together with the associated safety training.
History and Operations
The Southampton School of NavigationNavigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
originated with the death of a Southampton wine merchant Henry Robinson Hartley, in 1850. He bequeathed £42,524 to the Southampton Corporation which they received some years later. After advice from the Secretary of the Department of Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair GCB, PC, FRS was a Scottish scientist and Liberal politician.-Background and education:...
, it was decided that a School of Navigation should be set up, which would be fitting with the recent development of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
as a great seaport. After the need to raise additional funds the school was eventually finished in 1902. It was granted university college
University college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
status and known as the Hartley Institute, based in South Hill in the city of Southampton.
In 1932 the school was expanded when it merged with the Gilchrist Navigation school. At that time the school was confined to preparing students for Board of Trade certificate examinations for Mate, Master and Extra Master. 51 students were taught at this time by only two staff. In 1934 the college expanded to accommodate day cadets and courses for civil air navigation. It was during this time that Captain Whalley Wakeford was appointed as head of the school. Residential cadet courses began in 1937 with cadets completing a sea preparatory course. By 1939 there were 19 cadets, 129 day students and 15 staff and the school has moved to a new home at South Stoneham House in Swaythling
Swaythling
Swaythling was once a village but over the years it has gradually become a suburb and electoral ward of Southampton in Hampshire, England. The ward has a population of 13,394....
where it remained until 1946.
During the Second World War the school remained open to train mariners. In 1940 all students and cadets had joined the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard). Courses continued to run despite bombing in the Southampton area. Cadets were still trained and additional courses were created for existing officers from the armed services and abroad, including some 60 free Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
cadets. By 1942 the school had over 180 sea cadets in training and it was decided the school should be moved to a larger campus, which incorporated the existing HMS Tormentor operations base, just outside the village of Warsash
Warsash
Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, England, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble, west of the area known as Locks Heath. Boating plays an important part in the village's economy, and the village has a sailing club...
. At the request of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
a special navigation course was provided in 1945 for naval officers stationed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. By 1946 the entire school had moved to Warsash and included over 316 students and 32 staff (with the name of the college now officially recorded as the Southampton School of Navigation). In 1957 a new building programme at the college began (to replace the existing temporary WW2 structures). Three new residential blocks were created, as well as a refectory building and a new teaching block (including the Whalley Wakeford lecture theatre). One accommodation block Shackleton was finished in 1960 and won an RIBA
Riba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
gold medal. By 1967 a new teaching block had again been constructed and the school was now offering tankers courses as well as Bsc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Nautical Science.
In 1970 Whalley Wakeford, the schools long standing Director retired and the school removed itself from direct control of Southampton University. By 1978 the school had purchased additional grounds and had built a new fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
school, to provide professional firefighting skills to mariners. Additionally the use of the week based sea training out in the Solent also came to an end. Previously the college had its own small sized training vessels - Moyana (which, having won the Sail Training Association's first Tall Ships Race from Torbay to Lisbon in 1956 sank without loss of life on her return passage to the UK) and Halcyon which is now privately owned by Halcyon Yacht Charter. In 1986 the college went through a great change, when it merged with the Southampton College of Technology, meaning that for the first time engineers were trained on the same campus, as merchant navy deck officers. The school was renamed "Warsash Maritime College" and went through a period of building expansion which included a new pier, library and engineering block. It was not until the 1990s that the college would again change dramatically, when in 1996 some of the campus on the eastern side of Newtown road was sold to provide funds to provide a new model training facility. The manned model facility remains the only one in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
By the year 2000 the college had also built three new computer based training simulators. It was during this period that Warsash Maritime College merged with Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
to provide governmental sources of funding. The college was renamed Warsash Maritime Academy, which it is now known as today. The college now accommodates thousands of students throughout the year. Yearly cadets intakes follow two routes as set out by the MCA and are based on the Foundation Degree
Foundation degree
The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
or Higher National Diploma
Higher National Diploma
A Higher National Diploma is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom. This qualification can be used to gain entry into universities, and is considered equivalent to the first or second year of a university degree course....
Route. They specialise in either Deck Operations, Engineering or Electronics. The Academy also runs additional training courses, including specialist STCW
STCW
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers , 1978 sets qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. STCW was adopted in 1978 by conference at the International Maritime Organization in...
courses such as firefighting, sea survival and first aid. The Academy also continues to train officers up to the rate of Master Mariner
Master mariner
A Master Mariner or MM is the professional qualification required for someone to serve as the person in charge or person in command of a commercial vessel. In England, the term Master Mariner has been in use at least since the 13th century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms,...
.
In April 2009, Warsash Maritime Academy announced their plans to move the internationally acclaimed manned model training facility from its current location in Marchwood, Southampton to Timsbury Lake near Romsey, Hampshire.
From 2011 mariners will gain vital ship handling training, on scale model vessels in conditions that emulate real-life maritime experiences, on the UK’s oldest existing reservoir. Using various ship models, berths, basins and channels on the new lake, a variety of port scenarios, canal transits and berthing operations can be simulated for the ships’ officers and pilots under training to practise their ship handling skills.
Complex and, in real life, potentially hazardous manoeuvres can be practised in complete safety in the manned models making them a key training tool for the shipping industry. Bringing 21st century maritime training to Timsbury Lake marks the beginning of a new chapter in Timsburys' history. The 9th century lake has over the years been a source of fish for the monks of Winchester, of water to drive a medieval water mill and the haunt of carp anglers.
Alumni are able to join The Warsash Association which has a fast-growing worldwide membership of 425 (February 2011) including overseas branches in Australia and New Zealand.
Facilities
- Full Mission Bridge Simulator
- Engine Room Simulator
- Vessel Traffic Simulator
- Steam Plant Simulator
- Liquid Cargo Operations Simulator
- Multi-purpose Simulator
- Radio Centre
- Fully equipped Fire School & Fire Ground
- Engineering Workshop
- Seamanship Centre
- Pier Head with Lifeboats and Davits manned Model Lake
- Library (plus access to the main library at Southampton Solent UniversitySouthampton Solent UniversitySouthampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
. - Entertainment and leisure facilities (I.T Suite, Gym, Cafeteria, Bar etc.)
- Conference, classrooms and Seminar Rooms
- RYA / BCU Recognised watersports Centre
Accommodation
The college has three main areas for accommodation:- Hamblemeads
- Abner Blyth
- Shackleton
All phase 1 cadets are required to stay in either Blyth or Shackleton accommodation blocks; although some senior cadets in later phases may be required/able to move into one of the main student hall complexes at Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
.
External links
- Warsash Maritime Academy Official Website
- Southampton Solent University Official Website
- Southampton University Official Website
- The Warsash Association alumni from School of Navigation days to the present may join online.