METL’s Rita Barnish with a round up of students’ news

Girls of Distinction: (L - R) Lloyd’s Register’s jacqui Buchan; Braemar Seascope’s Gemina Cooper; Blenheim Shipping UK Ltd’s Barbara Prisciandaro and Mitsui’s Mouna Simmonds all celebrated examination distinctions.

Summer holidays, what holidays? With the shipping markets remaining very active throughout the summer months, the cry this year was “we don’t do holidays!” Even so, the METL students while working hard at their day jobs still found time for the odd night or two of socialising.

Party on the River

The first week of August saw the publication of the long-awaited ICS examination results. As the photography shows, it was the girls who stole the show. Some impressive results ensured the traditional METL exam results party at the Horniman Pub alongside the Thames went with a swing.

It was pleasing to see such a large turn-out of students past and present, lecturers, ICS Head Office staff and many others all enjoying drinks on a summer evening. Not to mention the tales afterwards of a very late night out with some sleeping in strange places ... enough said.

The all-important results

The ICS results this year reflected the hard work put in by the students over the long months of study and attending evening classes. In addition to our “Girls of Distinction”, we are very proud to have two prize-winners, Gemina Cooper from Braemar Seascope and Will Llewellyn from James Fisher Tankships. No doubt, they were delighted to receive their prizes from Knud Pontoppidan, BIMCO president, at the ICS prize-winners luncheon held at Trinity House last month. A special mention must also go to Nicola Graham from BP Shipping Ltd and Nikolas Greenin from Harris & Dixon (Shipbrokers) Ltd who both passed five subjects in one go – not easy when you are working full time. Well done to everyone.

Baltic welcome drinks

The new METL students joined their current class members along with the London-based TutorShip students for a “break-the-ice” welcome drinks evening at the new Baltic Bar at the Baltic Exchange in St Mary Axe. Attended by ICS director Alan Phillips, Tony Dixon, chairman of ICS Education & Training Committee, and Jeremy Penn, chief executive of the Baltic Exchange, a warm welcome was extended to the new London ICS students.

Good to be back

September saw the start of the new term with 25 weeks of study stretching ahead. It was interesting to note how some of the students viewed these forthcoming classes which run from September 2006 to March 2007. Chris Brown, Project Engineer from Lloyd’s Register, commented: “Can’t say I’m looking forward to the cold, dark nights of winter but looking on the bright side, class is always good fun!” Andrey Matuzkov from Tramp Oil & Marine (London) reflected that he was looking forward to resuming classes again because “they put some structure into my week”.

Class engagement

It is with absolute delight that Shipping Network sends its congratulations to Michelle Kelly and Alex Ballard on their recent engagement, especially as they first met at one of METL’s social evenings. Michelle studied for her ICS exams at evening classes while Alex completed his by TutorShip. After taking her exams, Michelle moved to Rome to work in the shipping department of the United Nations World Food Programme and is involved in shipping all kinds of foods around the world. Alex is now back working in the London office of NYK after spending some time in their Antwerp office. We wish them well for the future.

For details on evening classes and social events, please contact METL on email: admin@metl.info or visit the website: www.metl.info

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