Britain and the Sea conference, Plymouth University, 11/12 September
It was an exciting moment at the Maritime Foundation’s recent conference themed Enriching Britain’s Maritime Capability when Professor Graeme Herd, director of the School of Government at Plymouth University, announced the launch of the new DCSS (Dartmouth Centre for Seapower and Strategy).
The new centre is a partnership between Britannia Royal Naval College and Plymouth University.
‘Sea blindness’ is high on the new centre’s agenda, addressing this through a programme of education and training, dialogue, events, and by policy research.
Professor Herd, who is the newly appointed director of the centre, told the Maritime Foundation’s conference:
‘The Dartmouth Centre for Seapower and Strategy (DCSS) raises awareness and understanding of maritime matters through high quality and accessible training, research and dialogue activities. Its core focus is on policy relevant maritime defence and security issues in an increasingly ambiguous strategic context.’
Staffed by Plymouth University, and working closely with existing college staff at BRNC Dartmouth, the new centre will benefit from the unmatched location and heritage of the iconic institution that has been at the forefront of the education and development of world-class naval officers since 1863.
This is a pioneering venture aimed at raising knowledge, awareness and understanding of strategic and defence issues as they relate to maritime affairs and informing and shaping security policy decision-making through education, training and research.
Maritime Foundation Chairman Julian Parker OBE commented:
‘We are delighted that the new Dartmouth Centre for Seapower & Strategy has been announced at the Maritime Foundation’s third conference under the banner ‘Britain and the Sea’ and it is especially appropriate this year as our conference theme was about enriching the UK’s maritime capability. The new DCSS will surely make a significant contribution to that cause.’
Notes for editors
- The ‘Britain and the Sea 3’ Conference, took place on September 11 and 12 at Plymouth University’s Postgraduate School of Management, Plymouth University
- This was the third successive year that the Maritime Foundation and Plymouth University had collaborated to produce a conference in the Britain and the Sea series, more details of which are at www.britainandthesea.org
- Contributors to the conference programme included: Rear Admiral Ben Key RN, Flag Officer Plymouth; Professor Graeme Herd, Director Centre for Seapower and Strategy; Professor Steve Haines, Professor of Public & International Law at Greenwich University; Professor Gwythian Prins, Member of the Strategy Advisory Panel of Chief of Defence Staff and Royal Marines Advisory Group; Mark Grove, Lecturer in Maritime Warfare at University of Plymouth & Britannia Royal Naval College; Glenys Jackson, Head of the Merchant Navy Training Board; Cdre Barry Bryant, Director General at Seafarers UK; Mary Cox, Principal at Plymouth University Technical College; Dr Richard Thain, Director at Hydrographic Academy; Richard Gaslake of the Sea Fish Industrial Association; Lars Carlsson, Director Windship Technology
- Advocating and supporting the case for British maritime capability, the Maritime Foundation promotes Britain’s interests across the entire maritime sector. Its purpose is to inform and raise public and parliamentary awareness of the importance of Britain’s maritime industries, our dependence upon the sea and seafarers, commerce and defence
- Photos available on request