Council

In accordance with the amendments to the Articles of Association on 20th May 2010, the Board changed the collective name of it’s Trustees from ‘Council of Management’ to ‘Council’.

Under the Articles ‘Council’ can have a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 8 members, however, wherever possible equal numbers of persons will be drawn from the following backgrounds:

Council members are elected for a 3 year term of office.

Chairman

Mr A Cassels

Andrew has been Chairman of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board since July 2018 following the retirement of our long standing Chairman of eight years Robert Jones.

Having joined BP in 1975 where he served at sea for 14 years in ranks up to Master on BP oil tankers, Andrew has enjoyed a broad range of roles across BP Shipping and BP Exploration.  His key responsibilities have been within the two main operational areas of BP Shipping; Marine Assurance and Fleet Operations.

In 2015, Andrew was seconded to the Managing Director of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum which he held until shortly before his retirement in July 2018.

Andrew previously held directorships at East Asia Response Ltd (EARL) and the Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS), he was Managing Director of the BP ShipCare vessel lay-up service, Member of the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), a Council Member of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and on the Board of the Green Awards.

In his spare time Andrew enjoys walking his English Bull Terrier, gardening, cycling and walking.  Other notable achievements include the Prudential London 100 charity cycle ride in 2016 and 2017, and he is now training for the 2018 ride in July raising funds for Seafarers UK.
 
 
Vice-Chairman

Mr M Dickinson

Mark has been Vice-Chairman of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board since May 2010 and has over 30 years’ experience within the shipping industry.
 
Achieving the rank of 2nd Navigating Officer with The Bank Line, Mark came ashore to join the International Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF) in 1988, as a full time trade union official.  Mark worked his way up the ranks and quickly rose to Assistant General Secretary of the ITF in 1992 and was a key figure in the work of the ITF Seafarers' Trust during his time with the ITF.
 
In 2000, he joined Nautilus International (formerly NUMAST/ Nautilus UK) and in May 2009 was elected General Secretary of the union.  In his capacity as General Secretary, he has continued the development of Nautilus as an international union for maritime professionals determined to progress its members interests nationally, in Europe and globally. Mark is particularly passionate about the involvement of young seafarers and encouraging women into the shipping industry and has overseen the development of union structures to facilitate this.
 
He was a major contributor in the development of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, and has an on-going role in the development of UK legislation for eventual ratification of the MLC via membership of the UK Tripartite Working Group (TWG) under the auspices of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).  The ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, will give further impetus to the Board, particularly it’s Port Welfare Committees.
 
Council Members:

Ship Owners’ & Ship Managers Representatives:

Capt A Cassels, BP Shipping (Chairman)
Mr D Colclough, Princess Cruises
Mr T Springett, UK Chamber of Shipping
Capt J Thomson, Chamber of Shipping

Trade Union Representatives:

Mr A M Dickinson, Nautilus International (Vice Chairman)
Mr D Appleton, Nautilus International
Mr S Todd, RMT
Mr M Carden, RMT

Voluntary Sector Representatives:

Mr A Campbell, Queen Victoria Seamen's Rest
Mr M Foley, Apostleship of the Sea
Ms D Thomas, Sailors' Children's Society
Capt J Osmond, Shipwrecked Mariners' Society

Persons Able to Make a Particular Contribution due to their Specialist Expertise:

Cdre B Bryant CVO RN, Seafarers UK
Ms A Godfrey, The Fishermen's Mission
Mr G Lane, Accountant

Observers:

Mr N Atkinson, Maritime and Coastguard Agency