School of Maritime Studies head receives President’s Award

Capt. Fred Anstey, head of the School of Maritime Studies, will receive the Champion of Service President's Award for Exemplary Employees on March 9

Monday, March 7, 2022

Champion of Service is one of three new categories of the revised Memorial awards programs for employees.

The award citation notes Capt. Anstey has had many roles in his 34 years with the Marine Institute – instructor, union executive member, leader in industrial response, manager, director and school head.

“I started in a temporary job and ended up staying. Anything to do with the Marine Institute, I love it,” he said. “There’s a lot of good people at the Marine Institute at all levels of the institute. As far as I’m concerned the Marine Institute is family.”

He plans to use the $1,000 in award prize money to establish a scholarship in the School of Maritime Studies.

Award citation

The award citation says Capt. Anstey “contributed to moving the institute’s reputation forward through his efforts in the School of Maritime Studies, the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre and the Ocean Safety Research Unit.

“Whether he is asked to take on an interim role or a permanent position, Capt. Anstey takes on each one with full dedication to the area and works tirelessly to update his knowledge of the departments and people he engages with.

“He builds on the historical strength the Marine Institute has forged in preparing the next generation of seafarers for the global economy, and attracts world-class researchers and educators to help realize that vision.”

Wide-ranging career

Capt. Anstey started out as a temporary instructor in 1987 with the School of Maritime Studies (SMS), following eight years working on offshore supply vessels in the North Sea and the Newfoundland and Labrador petroleum sectors.

He spent 20 years teaching in both the school and the Centre for Marine Simulation before becoming coordinator of SMS programs.

By 2013, he was director of the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC), which includes the Safety and Emergency Response Training Centre in Stephenville and ocean safety research.

Following a stint as head of the School of Fisheries, he returned to SMS as school head.

Degrees and research chairs

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done in getting the research-based masters and PhD programs established at SMS in September 2020 – that was a milestone.”

SMS also landed its first research chair in 2020.

The Lockheed Martin Industrial Research Chair in Simulation and Learning, Dr. Heather Carnahan, leads a team of graduate students studying the effective design and use of simulators as learning tools for maritime industries.

“We’re now looking at getting a second chair, so we’ve done a lot,” he said. “By we, I mean the teams we have here at the School of Maritime Studies, the Centre for Marine Simulation, OSSC and SERT.”

The school is selecting a new Research Chair in Safety, Security and Wellness.

“We expanded the Bachelor of Maritime Studies – adding a new stream for safety management that is good for fisheries, ocean technology and anything to do with the marine sector.”

Next milestones

Capt. Anstey says the school’s next milestones will be converting its four diploma programs – marine engineering, nautical science, naval architecture and marine engineering systems design – to degree programs.

He also says the school’s Ocean Safety Research Unit is leading efforts to establish a seafarers’ mission in St. John’s and SMS is working with community partners and funding agencies to help achieve this goal.

“Establishing a seafarers’ mission is long overdue and will provide welcome support services for all mariners who visit St. John’s and live in our province.”