Maritime Volunteer Service

The Maritime Volunteer Service - Mersey Unit meets every Thursday evening at:

Maritime and Engineering College North West
Monks Ferry
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5LH

We usually meet at 7.30pm.

However, we do spend a good deal of time on the water or on training and it is best to contact us first:

V.O. Phil Wilson c/o  pamelawilson441@btinternet.com or 0750 201 8075

Our Vessels

MVS Vedette The Vedette is Nelson 40, an ex pilot cutter. The name may derive from the Latin word videre (to see) or may originate from the French word for a launch or small fast boat.
MVS Tom Hale The Tom Hale is 5 metre Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) powered by a 60hp Mariner engine. Tom Hale has already proved its usefulness as a patrol and rescue boat when MVS volunteers providing safety cover to a rowing regatta spotted a rower trapped in his overturned boat and affected a swift and efficient rescue.
MVS Zodiac “Zodi” is our second RIB and at 5 metres and powered by a 30hp outboard provides us with a second patrol and rescue boat, ideally suited for duties as a safety boat. “Zodi” is also utilised as workhorse for moving staff and supplies.
MVS Kitty Johnson “Kitty” is perhaps our most versatile vessel, designed and built as 16’ sailing dinghy, she can easily be turned into a training vessel for young rowers or used for our general boat handling courses. She is well able to support the other vessels on general duties.

What do we do on Merseyside?

On Merseyside we operate in one of the busiest rivers in the country leading to both the Manchester Ship Canal and the British Waterways inland network. Working in cooperation with both the Liverpool Harbour Master and British Waterways Dock Master we provide vital safety patrol boats and maritime services to events such as International Festival of the Sea and provide a corps of trained volunteers to help with emergencies. In addition to our regular duties and commitments, as a unique organisation in the charity sector we offer a number of services to the maritime and nautical community.

These include:

Safety and Marshalling Boats for Events

We provide safety boats for marshalling and patrolling events which are crewed by skilled and qualified personnel to national and international standards for maritime and nautical events.

Command and Control
The Maritime Volunteer Service offers Command and Control skills and experience to support event organisers and at emergencies or exercises.

Training in Skills for the Sea
We are able to offer young people within the Merseyside area a number of short courses designed to impart maritime skills. Each attendee is presented a certificate which can be added to portfolios and training records. We have aided young people to work through their Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme. Developing these skills young people become able to seek employment through their raised self esteem and proof of commitment.

  

We are proud of our commitment to assist the youth of Merseyside and improving social inclusion and reducing anti social behaviour.

For all enquiries regarding our training in skills for the sea please contact mvsmersey@googlemail.com

Project Kraken
The unit has been trained by Merseyside Police and the Regional Maritime Intelligence Team to become skilled eyes and ears to assist in the drive to protect our rivers, waterways and in particular our Portal to the oceans.