Nautilus Council member Jessica Tyson honoured with UK Shipping’s highest accolade

A Nautilus Council member is among the 20 men and women to receive the 2019 Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.

Captain Jessica Tyson, who chairs the Nautilus Women's Forum as well as sitting on the Union's governing Council, is to receive the award for services to the careers of young seafarers and women in maritime.

The awardees were announced on Merchant Navy Day, Tuesday 3 September, and presentations will be made by the Princess Royal in November at a ceremony at Trinity House in London.

Among the other awardees this year will be: 93-year-old Captain Angus McDonald, who began his nautical career at the height of the Second World War; Red Funnel CEO Captain Fran Collins;  Brittania Maritime Aid (BMA) chairman Captain Kevin Slade and Captain Rachel Dunn, who started her career in the Merchant Navy before becoming the first female Admiralty Pilot.

Captain Sunil Kumar Menon, Master of the Stena Impero, a UK-flagged tanker which was seized by Iranian military forces in the Strait of Hormuz and detained for 70 days – is also being recognised for his exceptional leadership and professionalism throughout the incident.

'These remarkable men and women have gone above and beyond their duty to provide an invaluable service not only to our maritime industry, but to our nation,' said maritime minister Nusrat Ghani.

'Their impressive contributions to the maritime sector have boosted the heart of the industry while also paving the way for the future generations of seafarers – and I would like to thank them for their work.'

The full list of awardees is:

1. Captain John William Bennett, for services to the welfare and safety of seafarers
2. Captain Ian Chapman, for services to the careers of young seafarers and a maritme charity
3. Captain Fran Collins, for services to the marine passenger sector
4. Michael Davies, for services to the maritime industry
5. Chief Engineer Officer Phillip Dick, For services to the maritime industry
6. Captain Rachel Dunn, for services to the careers of young seafarers
7. Captain Matthew Easton, for services to the maritime industry and the careers of young seafarers
8. Captain Nigel Hope, for services to a maritime charity
9. John Howard, for services to the jack-up barge sector
10. Captain Adrian McCourt, for services to maritime safety
11. Captain Angus McDonald, for services to the safety of seafarers and to the maritime industry
12. Captain John Mark Meade, for services to the Workboat sector
13. Andrew Parker, for services to the maritime industry and a maritime charity
14. Alain Reynier, for services to the careers of young seafarers and seafarer welfare
15. Captain Kevin Slade, for services to seafarer training and a maritime charity
16. Commodore David Smith, for services to maritime training and the careers of young seafarers
17. Captain Jessica Tyson, for services to the careers of young seafarers and women in maritime
18. Captain David Wheal, for services to maritime safety
19. Michael Willis, for services to seafarer employment, training and the careers of young seafarers
20. Captain Sunil Kumar Menon, for exceptional leadership and professionalism to maintain crew morale and vessel integrity