Ten senior experts in maritime safety from China have spent a day with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Poole seeing first-hand how the charity works to save lives.
Sea captains (YiJiang Qu second from the left) with Michael Vlasto, university tutors Margaret Kemble and Caroline Corney, and Adrian Frogley of the RNLI
The group, including a director of the China Maritime Safety Administration, YiJiang Qu, seven captains and senior engineers, an engineer and a third officer, are studying at the University of Portsmouth, School of Languages and Area Studies.
One of the lecturers in the School of Languages, Caroline Corney, arranged the day trip, including a meeting with the RNLI’s Operations Director Michael Vlasto, and a tour of the operations room, the RNLI College, the simulator and survival pool, the technical department and the lifeboats.
Caroline said: “It’s wonderful to be able to take our students to the headquarters of a world-renowned maritime rescue charity and the visit provided an excellent opportunity for them to develop international professional links.
“These students are fully aware of the work of the RNLI and are keen to see first-hand how they manage their operations across the UK and Ireland.
“English is the language of the sea, but these people are or will be representing China at international conferences on maritime safety so their need to learn and understand English is of enormous importance.”
The students are sponsored by the China Maritime Safety Administration in Shanghai. They are studying a year-long English for Professional Purposes course which includes improving their understanding of English and learning about British culture. It is the first time the School of Languages and Area Studies has run such a course.
YiJiang Qu, group leader of the students, said: “We had a wonderful visit to Royal National Lifeboat Institution and received a very warm welcome.
“The RNLI has a close relationship with the Chinese Search and Rescue agencies and we were impressed with the effective management and reliable operation of this charity-funded and volunteer-based institution.”
