Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Our Ref: HSR/2/1
Head Office Circular: NP/210/19
22nd October 2019
To: The Secretary
ALL SHIPPING BRANCHES
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY

I am saddened to inform you that on Friday 18th October a Royal Fleet Auxiliary member passed away in Whale Island in Portsmouth undertaking a Basic Sea Survival Course as required every 5 years by the MCA in which he was required to enter the water. At the RFA Headquarters the course requires that all seafarers enter an outside lake as opposed to most training centres using an indoor swimming pool of some description.

We are unsure of cause of death at this moment in time. The seafarer was a member of RMT for 5 years.

RMT are requesting a meeting with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the use of outdoor lakes for training purposes.

RMT are requesting a meeting with RFA to discuss assurances relating to concerns of our members.

We await further details of the investigation into the death and as soon as I have any further information this will be communicated to you. Please make the contents of this circular available to all appropriate members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary