The year was 2000, and it was the dawn of a new millennium. And as the original Wembley Stadium closed its doors for the final time, Neil Peacey joined the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to take on the role of temporary AO in the organisation’s Fishing Vessel Safety Branch.
Formed just two years earlier in 1998, the MCA was in its infancy when Neil arrived. He says: “I remember my first day well, the fishing vessel safety branch was just finalising the small fishing vessel code for under 15m vessels, also known as the ‘pink code’.”
The new Executive Agency combined HM Coastguard and the Marine Safety Agency, unifying Search and Rescue coordination, ship safety and inspections, navigation safety, pollution control and international maritime regulation enforcement.
It was a crucial moment, as the agency had just completed an upgrade of its coastal rescue coordination infrastructure, with rescue centres able to operate across different areas to improve flexibility and resilience.
Geographic Information System (GIS) based mapping was being used for the first time, enhancing locational awareness and the coordination of rescues across complex coastlines and geographic areas.
But it wasn’t just the agency’s emergency response function that was evolving. So too were the agency’s Flag State responsibilities, and electronic record systems for survey, inspection and certification.
For Neil, whose roles included stints within policy, survey and inspection projects, Maritime Incident Response Group, UK Ship Register, and now UK Shipping Concierge, what started as an interest and passion for maritime soon became a family concern, as his daughter joined the MCA and works within the MCA’s UK Customer Services Seafarer Safety and Health team.
Neil says: “Over the course of my time within the MCA, I have held multiple positions and roles, learning and developing my skills and knowledge across many facets of the MCA. This included policy, emergency response, project management and UK Flag functions.
“This has all benefited me within my current role helping to grow the UK economy through the work of the UK Shipping Concierge.”
UK Shipping Concierge Commercial & Policy Manager Graham Candy has known Neil since 2012, when the two began a working relationship and friendship that was to lead to their ongoing collaboration for the UK Shipping Concierge.
Graham said: “I didn’t want the day to pass without congratulating Neil on this achievement. 25 years is a long time, and I have had the pleasure of knowing him for much of that time.
“Neil is very much like a fine wine which only improves with age, and I hope to have the pleasure of working with him for a few more years yet. Congratulations!”
Looking to the future, Neil said: “I’m incredibly proud of the work that colleagues and I have done to raise standards, enhancing the experience of UK Shipping through our extensive knowledge and experience.
“The UK is a truly unique and special maritime offering, whether for investors, operators or skilled maritime professionals, and throughout my time at MCA, it’s been incredibly exciting to have been at the forefront of innovations that have made a lasting difference.
“Thank you to my colleagues and friends for their support and encouragement throughout my time here; it’s been very much appreciated and valued, and I look forward to continuing these important collaborations for many years to come.”
