Crewing cover for Welsh Fisheries Patrol Vessels

Welsh Government operate three Fishery patrol Vessels and are responsible for enforcing the entire Welsh zone. The two larger vessels have a minimum safe manning level of four crew and the third vessel a minimum safe manning level of three crew.

All crew on board the vessels have specific qualifications and experience which are required to undertake their roles. Due to the nature of the work involved, it is not possible to move staff from other departments within Welsh Government to cover any period of absence. Lack of sufficient crew has been an issue for a number of years and has raised criticism from a number of areas.

It is not feasible to train a relief crew to be deployed elsewhere and made available, leaving the more realistic solution to recruit short term contracted staff who have the skills and level of expertise required to undertake our statutory duties.

The initial roles required on the Fishery Patrol Vessels are:

• Vessel Master
• First Mate
• Engineer
• Rib Coxswain/Bowman

All these roles have defined qualifications/experience to allow a person to undertake the roles and will be provided at the tender stage.

Welsh Ministers seek a supplier who can recruit or provide highly skilled temporary vessel crews within the specified timescales, to provide the temporary extra cover required to allow the vessels to operate.