Secretary of State's Representative Hugh Shaw recognised in Queens Birthday Honours
A maritime salvage
expert from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been recognised in
the Queen’s Birthday Honours today.
The Secretary
of State’s Representative for Maritime
Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP), Hugh Shaw is to become an Officer of the Order of the
British Empire (OBE) for exemplary services to the environment and maritime
salvage.
Hugh, who lives in North East Fife, has
worked for the MCA for over 35 years and has been the Secretary of State’s
Representative for nearly 10 years. Hugh’s
OBE award recognises the huge personal responsibility and crucial decisions he
has overseen to protect the UK’s unique coastal environment from maritime
incidents. This role carries an enormous weight of
responsibility, where one wrong decision could have catastrophic repercussions. His skill and expertise has ensured that
there has been no significant pollution from shipping or from offshore
installations since 2008.
Most recently Hugh took control of the
government response to the grounding of the TRANSOCEAN WINNER oil rig on the
Isle of Lewis in early August 2016. The rig had lost its tow in severe weather.
He led a successful salvage operation that further demonstrated his unfailing
ability to remain calm and logical in a crisis and to bring parties together to
prevent pollution and protect the public.
Other notable incidents establishing Hugh’s
salvage expertise include the HOEGH OSAKA car-carrier that ran aground off Southampton
to prevent it sinking in January 2015, the RIVERDANCE that was a wreck removal
operation on Blackpool beach in 2008, and the removal of the MSC NAPOLI from
Lyme Bay in 2009. Between incidents, Hugh keeps himself extremely busy engaging
with the maritime sector both nationally and internationally, sharing his vast
experience from incidents to help the industry improve its safety procedures.
Speaking of his award, Hugh said: ‘To receive this OBE is an incredible honour
and I’m humbled to be recognised for the maritime and salvage work. This honour would not have been possible
without the help and support of my colleagues both past and present, not only
in the MCA, but also within our partner organisations, environment groups,
marine insurance and salvage sector.
There have been challenging times, but this work has given me great
satisfaction, especially when I know we have made a difference to the
environment for future generations.’
Sir Alan
Massey, CEO for the MCA said: ‘This
highly coveted honour is extremely well-deserved and I offer my warmest congratulations
to Hugh, who is an inspiration to everyone at the MCA. He has worked tirelessly to help protect the sea
and coastline, the lives of many members of the public and to uphold the high
professional standards for which the Agency is recognised.’