New Director of Maritime Safety & Standards appointed

Katy Ware has been with the MCA for 16 years. Katy joined the Maritime & Coastguard Agency as a flag State surveyor and Port State Control Officer. After a two year secondment to the Department for Transport, Katy was promoted to Principal for Marine Technology for the MCA.
In 2011 Katy Ware was appointed as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where she has worked to negotiate and promote UK policy on international shipping matters at the IMO and within the EU.
Now elevated to the Senior Civil Service, Katy will retain the role of Permanent Representative to the IMO, focussing on Council and the two main IMO Committees that deal with Safety and Environmental issues. Other aspects of EU and International work will be undertaken by the MCA International team, supported by the Department for Transport.
The new Director will start her role on 29th March.
Katy said: ‘I’m very proud to be taking on the role of Director of Maritime Safety and Standards. I am mindful that the Directorate faces some testing times ahead. However, with the support of our diverse and highly experienced workforce I very much look forward to developing the Directorate to deliver a service that ensures we meet the expectation of our stakeholders, and in particular that we support shipping companies flagging their vessels to the UK.’
Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said: ‘Katy has deep experience in the DMSS area, and takes over the reins at a demanding time as the MCA grapples with a range of challenges.
‘One of these is modernising the way our marine surveyors oversee the safety of shipping and meet the needs of our customers – an ambitious transformation programme that is the MCA Board’s highest priority for the coming year’
‘I have every confidence that Katy’s specialist knowledge, energy and leadership skills will contribute very strongly to the Agency’s continuing programme of change and improvement.’