Safety Award for NAFC

The NAFC Marine Centre UHI was joint winner of the 'Contribution to Safety' Award at the Fishing News Awards 2017.

NAFC's Industry Liaison Officer Caroline Hepburn and Fishing Course Lecturer Leslie Tait collected the award - which was shared with the RNLI's Fishing Safety Team - from host Rory Bremner at the awards ceremony in Aberdeen last night.

The annual Fishing News Awards shine a spotlight on the achievements, expertise and innovation in the UK and Ireland’s commercial fishing industries.

Since it opened the NAFC Marine Centre has delivered safety training courses to hundreds of fishermen (and other maritime workers), including Sea Survival, First Aid, Safety Awareness and Fire Fighting courses.

The Centre's Principal Willie Shannon welcomed the award, commenting that "it recognises the hard work of the Centre's staff over many years and the importance of NAFC to Shetland's fishing and maritime industries in ensuring that local fishermen, and others working at sea, are able to undertake essential safety training in the islands."

In addition to NAFC there were other local winners:

• the Pelagic Fisherman of the Year award went to skipper Lowrie Irvine of the Antares (LK419);
• the New Boat of the Year award went to the Resilient (LK 195); and
• Scalloway Harbour was 'highly commended' in the Fishing Port of the Year category (which was won by Brixham).

See a full list of 2017 winners on the Fishing News site.

Caroline Hepburn and Leslie Tait are also attending the Aberdeen Skipper Expo exhibition to promote the full range of courses and services offered by the NAFC Marine Centre, alongside SIC Ports & Harbour staff and other exhibitors from Shetland.