XN000022-1988-04-21 — Page 40

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1988

"ALL BUT A FEW HAVE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER UNITS.

"

A TOTAL OF 215 OF THE FORMER HARBOUR POSTS HAVE BEEN ABSORBED BY OTHER AUXILIARY FORMATIONS.

THE DEMISE OF THE HARBOUR UNIT STEMS FROM THE MARINE FLEET EXPANSION AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME.

BECAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE SOPHISTICATED VESSELS то EXPAND THE FLEET AND TO REPLACE OBSOLETE VESSELS THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TO OPERATE THE NEW VESSELS AND THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS TO MEET THE NEW STANDARDS WERE COMPLETELY REVISED AND NEW SYSTEMS WERE INTRODUCED.

THE NEW SYSTEM FOR TRAINING REGULAR FORCE MARINERS CONSISTS OF PROGRESSIVE ACADEMIC TRAINING AND EXAMINATION LINKED WITH SEA TIME TO PROVIDE NECESSARY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.

FOR AUXILIARY PERSONNEL OF THE AUXILIARY MARINE HARBOUR UNIT то OPERATE OR BE DEPLOYED UPON THE NEW VESSELS THEIR TRAINING, QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE REQUIRED ΤΟ MATCH THEIR REGULAR COUNTERPARTS.

MR COLLINS COMMENTED: "EVEN IF THE HARBOUR AUXILIARIES WERE ΤΟ DEVOTE ALL THE TIME AVAILABLE TO SEA TIME THEY WOULD STILL NOT ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE NEW LAUNCHES."

CALCULATIONS SHOWED, SAID MR COLLINS, THAT IT WOULD TAKE 24.9 YEARS FOR AN AUXILIARY TO BECOME FULLY QUALIFIED AND PERMITTED TO COMMAND A VESSEL THROUGH THE PROGRESSIVE TRAINING, EXAMINATION AND EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME.

TO QUALIFY AS A DECK HAND/LOOKOUT WOULD TAKE THE AUXILIARY MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS; AS A DUTY COXWAIN, OVER 14 YEARS.

WHILE THERE WAS SORROW AT THE DISBANDMENT OF A HISTORIC AUXILIARY POLICE UNIT, MR COLLINS POINTED

TO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ΤΟ IMPROVE AUXILIARY SERVICE.

MADE AN EVENLY

"WE'VE INCREASED TRAFFIC, DECENTRALISED AND BALANCED DISTRIBUTION OF WOMAN OFFICERS AND INTRODUCED WOMAN STATION SERGEANT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE RANK OF

WE'VE POSTS

"EACH UNIT WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL STATION SERGEANT; INCREASED CHIEF INSPECTOR POSTS BY DELETING SOME SUPERINTENDENT AND INCREASED STATION SERGEANTS BY DELETING SOME INSPECTORATE POSTS.

"WE'VE RATIONALISED THE WOMEN'S ESTABLISHMENT, INCREASED SIZE OF THE BAND AND ESTABLISHED A TRAINING UNIT.

THE

"THE AUXILIARY FORCE HAS BEEN GENERALLY TIDIED UP IN THE

PROCESS.

F

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