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Welcome to the forth blog in our series about the Superyacht Training Group. This week we take a look at the background of the final four members of the group, Helidecks, Romeo Foxtrot, Safeguard Helidecks and Submerge. Next week will be a summary of this series of blogs, together with information about joining the group or engaging a member company to help with your training needs.

Helidecks provide tailor-made aviation services to the Superyacht industry and were the first company to deliver MCA accredited training. With services including consultancy for helideck certification, helicopter procurement and integration, embarked operations plus safety management and crew training, they are trusted by the world’s most prestigious designers, builders and yachts. 


Dave Simms told us that he can remember discussing the concept of the group long before it was formally established. Having spent several years in the industry, he felt motivated by the idea of a group serving as a ‘one stop shop’ for crew safety training. 


Dave recognised that other than legislated and mandated training, some elements of the safety culture and safety training in the industry appeared to be sporadic and at best, lacked coordination. Having met plenty of busy clients, Captains and Chief Officers, he could see the need for a group of like-minded companies to step in and create easy access to multiple disciplines of safety training within the Superyacht industry.


It was this which was the deciding factor in joining the group, to build on the concept of like minded, safety conscious companies with a desire to raise the bar on safety in the industry. 


Direct business generated by the STG isn’t really a priority for Dave, though always welcome. Instead it’s being part of a professional organisation promoting something at the heart of Helidecks culture; safety. Which means that in the specialist area of operating helicopters onboard a yacht, the company brings vast experience and MCA accredited training to the table and is ideally placed to support the Superyacht industry. 

Safeguard Helidecks is a fully approved Aviation Inspection Body (AIB) authorised to inspect and assess Superyacht helidecks on behalf of the major Flag States and Chris told us that they were part of the initial conversation about the concept of the STG with Steve (Da Gama Maritime) and Dave Simms (Helidecks) in Monaco, way back before COVID struck.

 

The idea of a group of like minded people, coming together to support each other in business seemed like a cracking idea, and certainly something they wanted to be involved in. Knowing that everyone involved was trusted and honest, it felt like they would be in great company.


Safeguard Helidecks is licensed to issue Helicopter Landing Area Certificates (HLAC), Helicopter Landing Area Inspection Reports (HLAIR) and Helicopter Landing Area Technical Certificates (HLATC) on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR) ,The Marshall Islands (RMI), Malta and The Bahamas. While they aren’t specifically a training organisation, and therefore don’t strictly meet the ‘training’ part of the STG, they are able to offer support and guidance alongside Helidecks, on all things aviation related. 

 

The chance to be part of a project that we can all contribute to was a deciding factor in joining the STG, and being able to offer something as part of the group. They want to open doors for others in the hope that it will be reciprocated in such a positive environment.


They’d love to be with the STG if they decide to go to the Monaco show. It’s a fabulous opportunity to learn even more about other member companies and their reach, as well as promoting the benefits for clients who come to the STG.

 

The Safeguard Helidecks team believe that once clients realise that the STG is a one stop shop for all of their onboard (and some shore side) training requirements, the word should spread pretty fast!

Romeo Foxtrot was formed in 2019 around the belief that people can either be an organisation's greatest strength, or their biggest vulnerability, and that the traditional ‘CCTV and firewalls’ approach to security didn’t focus enough on the human element.


As the founder, Rolf, was leaving the military and developing the strategy for applying a niche skill set to the private sector, an introduction to Da Gama Maritime paved the way for membership of the STG. The opportunity jumped out, not only as a network of professionally aligned companies that can work in synergy together, but also as a support network of sorts. Running a training services company in a high-profile industry can be a lonely and occasionally difficult environment to navigate (pardon the pun!). Having people to talk to who have come across similar issues and faced the same challenges can be worth its weight in gold.


Romeo Foxtrot provides specialised intelligence-focused training in physical and technical security; ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) in the yachting industry are immensely successful in their chosen field and can have huge sway on the world stage. This means that a UBO’s yacht crew can often be the only easily discernible link between those high profile UBOs and the public; Romeo Foxtrot makes sure the whole crew are fully prepared for that through security training that blends the physical with the digital. 

 

The team is made up of multi-disciplinary intelligence and security professionals from across defence and government department backgrounds. Together, they bring decades of experience in understanding, solving, and managing the complex information risk management issues that affect the highest profile sectors in the world. 


Rolf told us that the benefits of being part of the group are myriad; it was a no brainer. It allowed Romeo Foxtrot to show the depth of professional network and credibility far faster than would have been possible without it.  He also said that training is a lot more complex than just a subject matter expert talking to a group of students; there’s a reason that large organisations like the military and Government agencies have stringent and in-depth accountability in training delivery - it must be deliberate and formalised for people to gain maximal value from it.


The STG provides clients with a level of due diligence for its training providers that simply isn’t found elsewhere when you’re dealing with relatively small sectors. Additionally, there is often an overlap between training topics, so having aligned companies that communicate with each other, and who are delivering to the same audience, allows for increased time and content efficiency.

 

Collectively, the STG has an enormous depth of knowledge; both in the yachting industry and in adjacent (occasionally totally unconnected) sectors. I challenge anyone to pose a question to the group about pretty much anything training related, and not get connected with a world leader in that field within a week! 

SubMerge stands at the forefront of private leisure submersible expeditions. With an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism and delivering unforgettable experiences, SubMerge offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to the clients needs. With over two decades of expertise in the personal submersible tourism industry, SubMerge has earned a stellar reputation as a trusted partner in submersible adventures, underwater technology and exploration.


The SubMerge team was introduced to the STG by another member. The concept of the STG straight away matched their belief that there is a need for professional Superyacht crew training. This training is essential in the various areas of expertise that are required by the crew, but aren’t used and practised on a daily basis, or included in basic training programs.


After a long chat with Steve, of Da Gama Maritime, and an internal discussion between the SubMerge partners, they felt that the STG is the right group of yachting professionals that they would like SubMerge to be part of.

With a deep understanding of the allure and fascination of underwater exploration, SubMerge’s team of experts excels in planning and managing exceptional submersible expeditions. The SubMerge team's commitment to safety, professionalism and delivering unforgettable experiences ensures clients have the adventure of a lifetime.


SubMerge also specialises in submersible rescue procedures. Their extensive knowledge and experience enables them to design and implement robust protocols to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of clients. With meticulous attention to detail, advanced equipment and highly trained professionals, SubMerge ensures peace of mind and a secure environment for all submersible adventures. 


A specialist Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Engineer leads the team in providing custom-fitted ROV solutions for Superyachts. Recognising each Superyachts unique challenges means they can offer meticulously designed and built ROVs, equipped with cutting edge technology to ensure optimal performance and successful outcomes.


Skilled pilots and operators work closely with clients as part of every expedition, leveraging their expertise to navigate challenging underwater environments and execute rescue operations. This integrated approach guarantees a seamless experience and underscores SubMerge’s dedication to providing the highest level of service and support.


In addition, SubMerge is proud to offer comprehensive ocean floor mapping services. Using state of the art technology, SubMerge can create accurate 3D maps of the ocean floor. This information makes a valuable contribution to scientific research and conservation efforts, as well as enhancing our understanding of the underwater world.


The SubMerge team brings over 20 years of experience working in the Superyacht industry and are fully committed to the STG. As a result, they expect to see the most impact from the association in the long term. 


The group has a clear objective and will work closely together in order to bring the strengths from each individual company directly to the client.  The key benefit for clients is a dedicated and vetted group of companies that can provide all of the training required for the whole crew. 

For more information about services offered by Superyacht Training Group companies, or if you’re interested in joining, please visit the website at:


https://superyachttraining.org/


To learn more about the members and follow our progress, you can find our social media channels here:


https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12716542/


https://www.facebook.com/OnboardSuperyachtTraining


https://www.instagram.com/superyacht_training_group/

Guest blog: Jordan Lin

by Rachel Smith • 08 May, 2024
At Red Square Medical, we’re keen to support those who have a passion for maritime medicine. While we can’t provide placements for everyone, occasionally a request pops up at just the right time and we can provide some experience and insight into our unique and specialised world. Last year we were contacted by Jordan Lin, a medical student with a love of the ocean. This is his story… When I was a boy, my dad and I used to go fishing with a local fisherman off the Norfolk coast. I absolutely loved being on the sea and so for quite a long time, I wanted to be a fisherman. When I got a bit older I kind of forgot about this and think I may have been slightly put off by watching the TV series ‘World’s Deadliest Catch’! But I have always loved being on the water and spent a lot of time sailing dinghies; I was also a swimming teacher for children back in high school and college. Later, I decided to study medicine and I’m now a final year medical student at the University of Bristol where I completed an intercalated degree; a Masters in Health Sciences Research. I’m now looking forward to starting work as a qualified Doctor in August. Though having spent 6 years training, my next 2 years will be spent working for the required two foundation training years that must be completed before being able to work independently as a Doctor in the UK. At university, I joined the VITA network which is a group dedicated to developing a health and public health approach at the heart of any response to human trafficking and exploitation. I became the blog coordinator for the organisation and you can read the blogs, including those that I have written, here: https://vita-network.com/blog/ In my spare time, I have been involved with the Bristol University Hot Air Ballooning Society and trained through the society to get my Balloon pilots licence. So, I often spend weekends during the summer flying in a leisurely fashion over Bristol and the surrounding area!

That Lightbulb Moment!

by Rachel Smith • 24 Apr, 2024
At Red Square Medical, we’re fascinated by the learning process - it’s key to our business after all. But we often wonder what happens when our students leave the classroom. Do they remember what they’ve learnt? What if they’re faced with a real emergency, will they know what to do? Is there a lightbulb moment when it all clicks into place? Skill fade is a very real issue, as we wrote about in this blog , and we know that setting up drills and practice scenarios when you’re back in your environment, with your kit and crew, can make a massive difference. It’s great to get some feedback from our students too. Last year, we received photos from the Southern Ocean from a solo round the world sailor who was able to successfully steri-strip a cut eyebrow closed. Or the Captain who recognised a heart attack in a crew member because they looked just like the guy he saw in the video on one of our courses.

Worse Things Happen at Sea… a salty tale of dysentery, haemorrhoids, accidents, depression and death!

by Rachel Smith • 03 Apr, 2024
You might wonder about the title of this month’s guest blog, as Worse Things Happen at Sea is also the name of our monthly newsletter. But this month, we’re delighted to introduce Andrew Edwards as our Guest Blogger, and we felt his amazing story about life at sea really deserved a dramatic headline… Dysentery... In the summer of 1966, I was a cadet on a cargo ship that loaded in the UK for 9 ports in West, South and East Africa. Our first port of call was Luanda, the capital of Angola – which was then a colony of Portugal. Next, 300 miles down the coast we called in to Lobito – also in Angola. In Lobito two of the ship's company contracted dysentery; myself and a big Irishman called Reg. The shoreside Doctor we saw simply diagnosed the condition (amoebic dysentery) and said, ‘sorry but I have no antibiotics for this!’. Thankfully the ship’s purser stood our corner and demanded that the Doctor find some. The following day the antibiotics were flown in from the Belgian Congo. The Doctor gave us no advice as to how to deal with the condition, not a word about how contagious it was, not a word as to the importance of thoroughly washing our hands and maintaining scrupulous personal hygiene. Thankfully both Reg and I were quartered just a short sprint from the heads, and we were left to get on with it by our shipmates. It took about a week to get over the dysentery, by which time I had lost several stone in weight and was as weak as a kitten. By the time we arrived in Walvis Bay, South West Africa (now known as Namibia), a further 1000 miles south, I was just about fit enough to play football for the ship against a local team. Their football ground had a main road going right through the middle of it which made for some challenging moments, but they still beat us comfortably and they were playing in bare feet!

How does the Easter Bunny avoid Diabetes?

by Rachel Smith • 20 Mar, 2024
As it’s Easter, we thought that it would be a very appropriate time, what with all that chocolate around, to take a closer look at the subject of Diabetes and why it’s such a huge problem in the UK and across the world. The Easter Bunny always looks so cute and cuddly, but is he a diabetes case waiting to happen? Or does his diet of grass and all that hopping around for the rest of the year make an important difference? According to the WHO, diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease which is characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar). Over time, this leads to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, and it usually develops with a late onset in adults. It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. Worryingly, in the past 3 decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels and is closely linked to obesity, poor diet, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Symptoms for type 2 diabetes are generally similar to those of type 1 diabetes (need to urinate often, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue), but are often less marked. As a result, the disease may be diagnosed several years after onset, after complications have already arisen. For this reason, it is important to be aware of risk factors. Effective approaches are available to prevent type 2 diabetes and to prevent the complications and premature death that can result from all types of diabetes. These include policies and practices across whole populations and within specific settings (school, home, workplace) that contribute to good health for everyone, regardless of whether they have diabetes, such as exercising regularly, eating healthily, avoiding smoking, and controlling blood pressure and lipids. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. Normal onset is in younger people, but can also be in adults. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include the need to urinate often, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. These symptoms may occur suddenly. Type 1 diabetes cannot currently be prevented. It’s thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction which destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It can also be caused by genetics, viruses, trauma, tumours, removal of the pancreas or other damage to the pancreas. About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. But the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades. The starting point for living well with type one or type 2 diabetes is an early diagnosis – the longer a person lives with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, the worse their health outcomes are likely to be. Easy access to basic diagnostics, such as blood glucose testing, should therefore be available in primary health care settings. Patients will need periodic specialist assessment or treatment for complications. A series of cost-effective interventions can improve patient outcomes, regardless of what type of diabetes they may have. These interventions include blood glucose control through a combination of diet, physical activity and, if necessary, medication; control of blood pressure and lipids to reduce cardiovascular risk and other complications; and regular screening for damage to the eyes, kidneys and feet to facilitate early treatment.

Reflective Practice and why it’s so important

by Rachel Smith • 21 Feb, 2024
Well, we’ve made it to February! How are your goals for the year going so far? As you’ll know, we do love a bit of goal setting at Red Square Medical HQ. But, we also understand the importance of Reflective Practice too. Especially in relation to setting goals. Want to know more? Please read on…

Guest Blog - Sam Kelly MSA

by Rachel Smith • 07 Feb, 2024
Today we start the first in a series of blogs in conjunction with our friends at the Maritime Skills Academy, and kicking it all off is a Guest Blog from MSAs Head of Training, Sam Kelly. Sam is 37 and lives in southeast Kent, in the quaint seaside town of Deal with with his wife, two children and a ‘Golden Doodle’ called Pringle. He has lived in the area ever since his father, a serving Royal Marine at the Deal Depot, and mother decided this was the place to raise their family. And it is, quite frankly, an excellent place to live. Here is his story… I’m the Head of Training for the Maritime Skills Academy, based in our head office in Dover. I oversee a team of Maritime Safety Instructors who deliver all STCW training for seafarers. Outside the Dover base, we have MSA Gibraltar. This location is operated in partnership with the University of Gibraltar and delivers Basic Safety Training and most recently Operational Firefighting, We are actually in the process of building a state-of-the-art Fire Training Module on ‘the Rock’.

Dry January!

by Rachel Smith • 17 Jan, 2024
So Christmas seems like years ago, and we’re all well into the New Year now. Did you make any resolutions? Some love to, some don’t. At Red Square Medical HQ, we love a goal or two and think the turn of the years can be a good prompt to make some positive changes. But, it’s well known that New Year resolutions don’t last. Forbes magazine tells us that 21% don’t make their resolution stick for even a month. While 34% state that it lasted for between one and three months. Is that a failure though? Or could it be all it takes to make some small changes that have a lasting impact? We thought it would be good to take a closer look at one of the most popular resolutions… Dry January! Now, let’s get one thing straight, the Red Square Medical team are not averse to a tipple or two! But as medics, we’re very aware of the short and long term benefits of giving our livers a little breather every so often. Of course, everyone responds differently to stopping drinking for a month, so the timeline below is just a guide. But it might help you to decide whether it’s a good idea to give the booze a break for a while, or work towards reducing your intake - we know it’s easy for it to creep up over time!

12 months since I left the NHS

by Rachel Smith • 03 Jan, 2024
What I miss most about the Ambulance Service… It’s been 12 months since I left the Ambulance service after 8 years of working frontline, and to be honest it’s flown by. A few weeks ago the team at Red Square Medical HQ were chatting about how life has changed in that time and what, if anything, I was missing from my former life! The list might just surprise you… Most of all, I miss my old colleagues and I definitely miss the patient contact. And driving on blue lights… that was one of the best parts of the job! Working in the ambulance service with regular partners who you get on well with really does create friendships for life. Or even doing a tricky job with someone you don’t know well provides a common bond forever. Every day you’re facing stressful situations and sometimes split second, life changing decisions. You rely on each other totally and make sure you keep each other safe in some difficult and challenging situations. I worked with 3 very different partners most of the time for my last few years and I miss them all. Happily though, I have some great new colleagues at Red Square Medical and Outreach Rescue, the other company that I work for.

Guest Blog - Rachel Smith

by Rachel Smith • 03 Jan, 2024
I was born in a tiny village in Northamptonshire but had a fairly nomadic childhood, eventually settling in the industrial town of St Helens in the north west. As a child I was horse mad, so boats never got a look in. Apparently ‘horse’ was the first word I said and despite the fact that we could never afford a horse, my dream was always to ride and work with horses. It’s perhaps an early indication of my goal-oriented side that I got a Saturday job as soon as I could. At the age of 13, I’d cycle a 12 mile round trip, twice a day, just to go and ‘muck out’ at a local farm where they bred Welsh ponies and Arab horses! There wasn’t even any riding. Later, I found myself working for the family of a young girl who would go on to represent Great Britain in dressage at the Olympics. The work was physically hard and the standards high. No corners were cut and I learnt the skills I needed the old fashioned way. I got to travel all over the UK in the branded horsebox which was pretty exciting for a teenager. But I think I will always be grateful for the solid work ethic and sense of responsibility that this job instilled in me. I always planned to leave school at 16 and go to ride racehorses. But I got quite reasonable exam results and a new degree course was announced in Equine Science and Business which changed the plan. So, after taking the required year out, when I worked in an eventing yard in Yorkshire, I started the 3 year course. For the two work placements, I opted to go abroad, to Italy and the USA, which supercharged my desire to travel. I continued working in the equestrian world for a couple more years, but the poor pay and prospects, plus a dose of pneumonia pushed me onto a different path. I got a job in telemarketing for a bank, and after putting forward the idea of finance for horses, I found myself transferred to Marketing for 6 months. 16 years later, I was still there!

Are they wearing a beer jacket??

by Rachel Smith • 20 Dec, 2023
Christmas is coming and the season of parties is upon us. Of course this means that most of us will overindulge in large amounts of luscious food and, of course, a tipple or two. At Red Square Medical HQ, we have a method of categorising drunk people. During our combined careers, we’ve dealt with more drunks than we can remember; it’s easily running into several hundred. What we’ve learnt, amongst other things, is that most people who are drunk fall into one of these categories. Now please don’t judge as it is purely observation and also makes for an interesting chat when delivering the STCW Medical training, because we all know at least one person from each category and sometimes… a person can be in multiple categories depending on many other factors, or, we might even have been there ourselves! Once we have established these categories there is a serious note to this blog so please do keep reading.
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