The MAIB has today issued a safety bulletin following the failure of a shallow draught, lead keel fitted to a commercial yacht on 7 December 2017.
The bulletin contains details on the background of the incident, the initial findings, yachts fitted with similar keels and a safety lesson, read more.
A full report will be published when the investigation is complete.
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Press release: Go on a coastal adventure with The Snail and the Whale
This summer sees the launch of a unique partnership between the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Natural England and Macmillan Children’s Books, celebrating 15 years of The Snail and the Whale, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s classic tale of adventure and friendship.
First published in 2003, The Snail and the Whale tells the story of a tiny snail who hitches a lift around the world on the tail of “a great big, grey-blue humpback whale”. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins. The little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world but when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail’s big plan that saves the day.
Macmillan Children’s Books, MMO and Natural England want to encourage families to go on their own big adventures this summer, exploring The England Coast Path. While visitors might not see icebergs, sharks and penguins, with the help of their ‘The Snail and the Whale Coastal Adventure’ booklet they will have all the tools and information they need to explore their coast – from matching animals to their coastal homes and learning fun marine animal facts to advice about keeping our coasts free from marine litter.
The booklet is available to download now from the MMO website and also at special events celebrating The Snail and the Whale and this fantastic partnership throughout 2018.
Julia Donaldson said:
I am delighted that fifteen years after Axel and I created The Snail and the Whale our story continues to encourage young readers to get out and engage with nature and the world around them. I hope that children exploring the England Coast Path can gaze “at the sky, the sea, the land, the waves and the caves and the golden sand” and be just as amazed as the snail.
The MMO licenses, regulates and plans marine activities in the seas around England so that they’re carried out in a sustainable way.
Gareth Hern, MMO Communications Advisor, said:
We are delighted to be involved with this partnership. The Snail and the Whale is a tale of exploration and we want to encourage people to explore our beautiful and diverse marine areas.
In the story, the snail feels small and insignificant but does something amazing in the end. Children and young people will have a huge part to play in protecting our marine areas so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Their work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
Neil Constable, Natural England Programme Manager for England Coast Path said:
The England Coast Path is playing a valuable role in opening up access to our nation’s remarkable coastline. Whether you are taking a short stroll or embarking on your own long distance adventure, it provides the perfect opportunity for everyone to explore the coast’s beauty and diversity.
We are proud to be the publisher of Julia and Axel’s classic story of friendship and teamwork, and thrilled to be partnering with Natural England and MMO, bringing this favourite family story to life for a whole new generation of intrepid young explorers.
It is wonderful that fifteen years after this picture book was first published the tiny snail and the grey-blue humpback whale continue to have new and exciting adventures.
Press release: Go on a coastal adventure with The Snail and the Whale
This summer sees the launch of a unique partnership between the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Natural England and Macmillan Children’s Books, celebrating 15 years of The Snail and the Whale, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s classic tale of adventure and friendship.
First published in 2003, The Snail and the Whale tells the story of a tiny snail who hitches a lift around the world on the tail of “a great big, grey-blue humpback whale”. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins. The little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world but when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail’s big plan that saves the day.
Macmillan Children’s Books, MMO and Natural England want to encourage families to go on their own big adventures this summer, exploring The England Coast Path. While visitors might not see icebergs, sharks and penguins, with the help of their ‘The Snail and the Whale Coastal Adventure’ booklet they will have all the tools and information they need to explore their coast – from matching animals to their coastal homes and learning fun marine animal facts to advice about keeping our coasts free from marine litter.
The booklet is available to download now from the MMO website and also at special events celebrating The Snail and the Whale and this fantastic partnership throughout 2018.
Julia Donaldson said:
I am delighted that fifteen years after Axel and I created The Snail and the Whale our story continues to encourage young readers to get out and engage with nature and the world around them. I hope that children exploring the England Coast Path can gaze “at the sky, the sea, the land, the waves and the caves and the golden sand” and be just as amazed as the snail.
The MMO licenses, regulates and plans marine activities in the seas around England so that they’re carried out in a sustainable way.
Gareth Hern, MMO Communications Advisor, said:
We are delighted to be involved with this partnership. The Snail and the Whale is a tale of exploration and we want to encourage people to explore our beautiful and diverse marine areas.
In the story, the snail feels small and insignificant but does something amazing in the end. Children and young people will have a huge part to play in protecting our marine areas so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Their work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
Neil Constable, Natural England Programme Manager for England Coast Path said:
The England Coast Path is playing a valuable role in opening up access to our nation’s remarkable coastline. Whether you are taking a short stroll or embarking on your own long distance adventure, it provides the perfect opportunity for everyone to explore the coast’s beauty and diversity.
We are proud to be the publisher of Julia and Axel’s classic story of friendship and teamwork, and thrilled to be partnering with Natural England and MMO, bringing this favourite family story to life for a whole new generation of intrepid young explorers.
It is wonderful that fifteen years after this picture book was first published the tiny snail and the grey-blue humpback whale continue to have new and exciting adventures.
Press release: Change of British High Commissioner to Belize in October 2018
Change of British High Commissioner to Belize in October 2018 – GOV.UK
Ms Claire Evans OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to Belize.
Ms Claire Evans OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to Belize in succession to Mr Peter Hughes OBE. Ms Evans will take up her appointment in October 2018.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Full name: Claire Elizabeth Evans
2012 to present
FCO, Deputy Director, Protocol Directorate
2008 to 2012
Doha, Deputy Head of Mission
2003 to 2007
Dubai, Deputy Consul General and Director of Trade and Investment
2000 to 2002
FCO, Deputy Head, Human Resources Operations (Americas, Africa and Middle East), Personnel Department
1998 to 1999
FCO, Deputy Head, Recruitment Section
1996 to 1998
FCO, Desk Officer, UK/Russia Bilateral Desk, Eastern Department
1992 to 1995
Islamabad, Third Secretary (Commercial)
1989 to 1992
Jakarta, Deputy Head of Management
1988 to 1989
FCO, Executive Assistant, Secretary of State Private Office
1987 to 1988
FCO, Executive Assistant, Personnel Services
Further information
Published 1 August 2018
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News story: Home Office awards over £100 million to police transformation projects
The government is investing more than £100 million of the Police Transformation Fund (PTF) in projects designed to prepare police forces to adapt to the challenges of the future.
The Home Secretary has approved up to £70 million for investment in 2018/19 in four national major police-led programmes covering forces in England and Wales and to manage the portfolio of projects to ensure maximum benefits are shared among forces.
The programmes will transform how police use technology, make it easier for the public to engage with police online, and boost capacity to deal with major threats.
Altogether this will help support the police in preventing and combating existing serious crime and being better equipped to deal with new types of crime.
The Home Office also announces today (Wednesday 1 August) 15 successful bids to the fund, totalling £42.7 million across 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Nick Hurd said:
Criminals don’t stand still, and neither should our police forces. We’re determined to support police leaders in creating a modern, agile and responsive police service.
The Police Transformation Fund is delivering real change in policing, and this new funding will continue to help forces improve efficiency and tackle threats like serious and organised crime.
The four police-led national programmes, which are already underway, include:
The National Enabling Programme: this will deliver a unified IT system across policing and deliver more joined-up working within and between forces. In Cumbria, for example, cloud-based note-taking technology allows officers preparing to question suspects in custody to view real-time information from victim interviews being conducted by other officers elsewhere, improving the response offered to those affected by crime.
Specialist Capabilities Programme: this will improve force-to-force resource sharing in key crime areas like roads policing and armed policing. In cyber-crime, for example, the programme seeks to ensure forces can tackle digitally-dependent crime, with oversight provided through regional organised crime units (ROCUs).
The Digital Policing Portfolio: this aims to improve police’s use of technology, including by creating a single online hub. The hub allows members of the public to report low-level incidents – such as minor road collisions – online rather than having an officer manually record the information at their local station, providing a better service to the public and improving efficiency for the force.
Transforming Forensics: this will improve how biometric services and digital forensics are used, including the development of a 24/7, faster, fingerprint identification service.
The national programmes are expected to deliver cash savings, as well as improving efficiency by, for example, freeing up officers for frontline policing roles. Funding will be released in stages to the programmes subject to progress in delivery to provide ongoing assurance of this major investment.
The fund was launched in May 2016 and aims to help police respond to changing crime and shape policing for the future.
In phase 1 (2016/17 to 2017/18), 98 projects benefited from £223 million of funding. For phase 2 (2018/19 to 2019/20), investment will focus on the national programmes and meeting the demands of serious and organised crime.