Maritime & Coastguard Agency appoints new SOSRep
The Maritime &
Coastguard Agency has made a new appointment to the vital role of Secretary of
State’s Representative (SOSRep) Maritime Salvage & Intervention, which
oversees the response to accidents at sea.
Les Chapman has been
appointed to the role and will join the Agency on Monday 21 August. He will
work alongside the existing SOSRep Hugh Shaw OBE for several months, to allow a
substantial transition period in this important role, and will not assume
the role and responsibilities of the SOSRep until an agreed time later on
in the year.
The SOSRep is
responsible for reducing the risk to safety and the environment arising from
accidents at sea. Recent incidents which were overseen by the current SOSRep
Hugh Shaw include the Transocean Winner rig grounding off the Isle of Lewis in
2016 and the Hoegh Osaka car carrier incident in the Solent in 2015.
Mr Chapman (pictured left) is no stranger to the maritime world, having graduated from the Royal
Military College of Canada and served in both the UK's Royal Navy and the
Royal Canadian Navy – as part of the former, he qualified for nuclear
submarine command and held four command appointments. Over the course of a
career spanning the maritime, security and transportation industries, Les has
also worked with a number of commercial maritime organisations including
Associated British Ports Ltd, DNV and The Maritime Group. He is a Fellow
of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, the Institute
of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and the Nautical Institute, a
Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, The Worshipful Company
of Arbitrators, The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and a Younger Brother of
Trinity House.
Les Chapman said: “The
SOSRep role can be a difficult but very rewarding one as it’s all about
providing protection and safety in the maritime world. I’m looking forward to
working alongside Hugh Shaw as I familiarise myself with all aspects of the
job.”
Sir Alan Massey, Chief
Executive of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, commented: “We are committed
to safety of life and the environment at sea through safer lives, safer ships,
cleaner seas. As we have seen from many serious incidents in UK waters over recent
years, the SOSRep has a unique and critical role in rapidly and effectively
marshalling the resources of all parties to achieve the best possible outcomes.
I am delighted we have
appointed Les Chapman as our new SOSRep. Les brings highly relevant skills
and experience with him and I am sure he will be an excellent successor to Hugh
Shaw OBE, who has done a superb job over the years in growing the effectiveness
and influence of the SOSRep role.”
Mr Chapman (pictured left) is no stranger to the maritime world, having graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada and served in both the UK's Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy – as part of the former, he qualified for nuclear submarine command and held four command appointments. Over the course of a career spanning the maritime, security and transportation industries, Les has also worked with a number of commercial maritime organisations including Associated British Ports Ltd, DNV and The Maritime Group. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and the Nautical Institute, a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.