Captain John Lloyd RD, MBA, FNI, who is Vice-Chairman Navigation & Seamanship of the Maritime Professional Council (MPC), has recently been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.

On Merchant Navy Day, the government honoured 11 seafarers with Merchant Navy Medals – the highest medal of honour within the maritime sector. The sector is filled with unsung heroes who keep the country running by supplying vital goods and embodying the spirit of maritime. Amongst others, recipients included an operational director for a maritime training company who champions diversity within maritime and a captain who suffered a career-ending injury and now advocates for safety and mental health.

The 2023 recipients were:
Captain John Lloyd for services to maritime education
Dr Alan Stephen Bury for services to maritime education
Captain Philip Mark Peter Cave for services to seafarer welfare
Allan Dickson for services to Merchant Navy careers
Chief Petty Officer Martin Etwell for services to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Donnacha O’Driscoll for services to seafarer welfare and cruise sector pandemic recovery
Captain William John Pearn for services to marine pilotage and safety
Captain Ewan Rattray for services to the safety of marine pilots
Raymond Strachan for services to life-saving actions
Katy Womersley for contributions to seafarers’ training and sector diversity
Captain Charles Woodward for promoting the Merchant Navy and commemorating the sacrifice of seafarers