Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners’ (NP&HC) Marine Skills & Resource Centre (MS&RC) was officially declared open at a ceremony on Wednesday 15 July, during which the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE, unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Situated in The Strand, at the heart of the historic fishing port, this new centre of excellence for learning and developing maritime expertise in Cornwall aims to support and future-proof the Cornish marine sector by recruiting, training and retaining local people.
Seafood Cornwall Training will deliver a comprehensive range of qualifications and courses at the Centre for new fishermen and experienced seafarers, as well as training to commercial crews and employees in the maritime industry.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), will also occupy the MS&RC, providing immediate access to fisheries’ regulators and marine scientists.
The objective is to provide a stimulus for collaboration between organisations and partners in the fishing and wider marine industries to foster innovation, develop supply chains, attract further investment, and benefit communities.
Lead contractor, R M Developments and project managers, Ward Williams worked in partnership with architects, Poynton Bradbury to deliver the £2.1 million MS&RC, which received £1.75 million from the UK Government’s Town Deals Programme, the aim of which is to deliver long-term economic growth and productivity.
Penzance Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £21.5 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the regeneration of Penzance and Newlyn.
“I would like to thank Harbour Commissioners past and present for their foresight and commitment, as well as everyone else involved in bringing this Marine Skills & Resource Centre to life, in spite of the stormy winter weather that added a few extra challenges along the way,” said NP&HC’s Chief Executive Officer and Harbour Master, Jonathan Poynter. “Working in partnership with the Town Deal Board and Cornwall Council has enabled us to create this crucial resource much faster than we could have done on our own, and we know it will make a real difference to all those in Newlyn’s fishing fleet who have previously had to travel further afield to gain their skipper’s tickets and licences to operate.”
“From sea survival, firefighting, first aid and safety to engineering, watchkeeping, navigation and radio operation, we are passionate about providing skills and resources to support the sector from this modern, purpose-built space,” explained Seafood Cornwall Training Manager, Clare Leverton. “We are also determined to minimise personal risk in a profession that is defined by severe weather, unpredictable oceans, long shifts and heavy machinery, and help our fishing community to remain safe.”
“It is a proud moment for us to have delivered the MS&RC, which is just one of the landmark projects that forms part of our strategic vision to expand Newlyn Harbour for the future fishing industry, provide more space for larger, modern fishing boats as well as storage on an industrial scale, and then diversify and improve the Port for a broader range of operations,” said Chair of NP&HC, Paul Durkin. “We exist to support Cornwall’s fishing and maritime industries, and this new Centre will enable local people to achieve essential qualifications without leaving the harbour.”
“Penzance was one of 101 towns in the UK and four in Cornwall that was invited to bid for the Government’s £3.6bn Town Deal Fund, one of the key aims of which is to fund projects that contribute to local regeneration by supporting skills development and business growth,” added Chair of the Penzance Town Deal Board, Martin Tucker. “This new Marine Skills & Resource Centre in Newlyn, which benefits from this funding, will not only provide vital training but also help to develop and sustain Cornwall’s fishing industry for generations to come.”
“This new facility for Newlyn is another step towards the Port’s regeneration and Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners are to be congratulated on delivering this important amenity as part of their strategic vision,” said Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment, Cllr Tim Dwelly. “In an increasingly challenging financial and political landscape, it is only by working together that we can maximise the impact of available funding, support local people by helping them to upskill, and stimulate local, economic growth.”
The official opening was attended by representatives from all the agencies involved and guests, Tracy and Shannon Moseley, and Aunty Sasa (Sandra Pascoe) whose son, brother and nephew, Conor, tragically died in an industrial accident aboard a fishing vessel that was berthed in Newlyn Harbour in 2019.
The commemorative plaque reads:
For more information, visit www.penzancetownfund.co.uk
