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Ascension Island Government Celebrates Continued Support and Funding from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
The Ascension Island Government is proud to highlight a series of major milestones, training successes, and critical asset acquisitions made possible through the continued support of UK Government and funding of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
This partnership continues to enhance maritime safety, boost local infrastructure resilience, and uplift the technical skills of our workforce.
In a significant boost to local marine infrastructure, funding from the MCA has secured a new small dory boat for the Georgetown Port. This boat enables the safe transfer of both boat owners and visiting yachtsmen between the boat span and the landing facilities.
The MCA’s funding has also directly invested in the professional development of AIG personnel, yielding exceptional results across two intensive training programs earlier this year:
Advanced Welding Qualifications: In March this year, eight colleagues within the Facilities and Operations Directorate underwent rigorous welding training and testing conducted by TWA Certifications. Candidates completed intensive coding preparation in both Manual Metal Arc (MMA) and Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding using mild and stainless steel. Every single candidate passed their BS4872-1 coding tests in various positions with flying colours—a fantastic achievement. Our small team is now better equipped to carry out all welding jobs in particular, all repairs on our marine craft.
Coxswain Training: Eleven of AIG’s boat and barge coxswains successfully tackled an intensive, three-part marine training and assessment program. Covering collision regulations, navigation, firefighting, personal survival, and practical vessel handling, the course demanded an outstanding level of commitment. Several candidates are now actively working toward completing their final sea hours to solidify this critical qualification.
This collaborative momentum was further highlighted in March, when Ascension welcomed a successful visit from the MCA’s Overseas Strategic Policy Manager for Maritime Governance and Regulatory Compliance. This visit underscored the strong strategic alignment between the MCA and AIG.
Looking ahead, the partnership will continue to focus on environmental protection and emergency readiness. This coming July, AIG will host another round of the Counter Pollution Workshop, immediately followed by a comprehensive, live Oil Spill exercise to test and refine local response capabilities.
The MCA’s continued support is making a tangible, daily difference on Ascension. From the arrival of the span boat to the training our welding and coxswain teams have just mastered, this funding directly elevates our safety, capability, and resilience. We extend our sincerest thanks to the MCA for their ongoing commitment to Ascension’s port, and we look forward to working closely with them at next month’s Red Ensign Group Conference and July’s counter-pollution training.
