RINA member Allan Dickson was the proud recipient of the Merchant Navy Medal, the highest medal of honour in the UK maritime sector, at a ceremony at Trinity House at London’s historic Trinity House on 21 November.
Allan received the award from Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in recognition of his services to Merchant Navy careers. Currently serving as a second engineer onboard Cal-Mac’s ro-pax mv Glen Sannox, having just completed his chief engineer officer certificate, he has also been a Merchant Navy Careers at Sea Ambassador for several years.
Of the event Allan comments that it was fantastic to meet the 10 other recipients of the Medal this year: “all of whom have gone above and beyond in the fields of maritime safety, mental health and education”.
He also commended the “inspiring” speeches by the Princess Royal and Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, on “the importance of the Merchant Navy and the need to ensure people know about what we do and the career available, as well as recognizing the challenges that seafarers face and working to improve the industry.”
Allan began his career with Shell in 1997, qualifying as a combined steam and motor engineer in 2000. Over the next decade he worked for a number of operators, predominantly on gas carriers. In 2010, he relocated to Australia where he spent five years doing surveying, arbitration, and project work, before returning to the UK and sea to obtain his Combined Chief Engineers certificate.
As well as he work as a STEM Ambassador he was also recently elected to the council of seafarers’ union Nautilus International. In addition, he is treasurer of the Edinburgh & Forth Branch of the Merchant Navy Association.
Our warmest congratulations to Allan for this well-deserved honour.
