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  1. Home

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  5. Kerrie Forster

Kerrie Forster

CEO

Workboat Association

My interests

Associations & Memberships

About the Speaker/Moderator

After 17 years working both on/offshore within various maritime industries, Kerrie is an industry Consultant and CEO of the Workboat Association - “The trade association for Workboat Owners, Operators, Stakeholders and Professionals.” Once a workboat vessel Master, he has substantial offshore experience onboard CTVs, Survey Vessels, Dive support and Anchor Handlers. Kerrie spent a number of years managing a fleet of workboats for an International company based in the Netherlands and has gained experience from working across the globe. Kerrie has a strong background in promoting a well-accepted safety culture, responsible work ethics and cross organisation understanding. He has designed QHSE documentation, systems/ controls and has led significant incident and accident investigations. Organising and providing training and technical advice to on/offshore workforces, he is an ISM lead auditor, certified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code and has developed and implemented ISO/OHSAS/IMO certification of various company Safety Management Systems. Currently living in Rotterdam NL, Kerrie actively represents the Workboat Industry and wider Offshore Contracting Sector speaking at and Chairing working groups and conferences, providing guidance and research to many National and International publications, campaigns and Government strategies. Kerrie is motivated in supporting all industry stakeholders from Regulators to Apprentices.

Attending

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 4, Session 3 - Episode 2: The relative benefits of Retrofit v’s New Build
Online Conference
Live

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 4, Session 3 - Episode 2: The relative benefits of Retrofit v’s New Build

Started from : March 14, 2024
Available until : August 5, 2026
Online Session
Commercial Marine Network | Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 2 Session 3: Transfer & Access: Managing crew transfer safety
Main Stage - Virtual
Live

Commercial Marine Network | Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 2 Session 3: Transfer & Access: Managing crew transfer safety

Started from : December 31, 2021
Available until : August 15, 2026
Online Session
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Propulsion systems - the Good, the Bad, and the Reality
Seawork - Conference Room 1

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Propulsion systems - the Good, the Bad, and the Reality

Tuesday, Jun 10, 2025
9:50 AM - 11:00 AM | Europe/London
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 2: Vessel Circular Economy - Closed-loop Scrappage
Main Stage - Virtual
Live

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 2: Vessel Circular Economy - Closed-loop Scrappage

Started from : November 21, 2022
Available until : August 12, 2026
Online Session
Commercial Marine Network | Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 2 Session 4: Utilising autonomous vessel technology to optimise efficiency
Main Stage - Virtual
Live

Commercial Marine Network | Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 2 Session 4: Utilising autonomous vessel technology to optimise efficiency

Started from : April 5, 2022
Available until : August 14, 2026
Online Session
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 4: Green Skills - Learning green skills at sea through practical application
Main Stage - Virtual
Live

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 4: Green Skills - Learning green skills at sea through practical application

Started from : April 20, 2023
Available until : August 10, 2026
Online Session
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 5: Port Infrastructure & Alternative fuels: Onshore & Offshore fuelling systems
Seawork 2023
Live

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 3 Session 5: Port Infrastructure & Alternative fuels: Onshore & Offshore fuelling systems

Started from : June 13, 2023
Available until : August 10, 2026
Online Session
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 4, Session 1 - Episode 1: Practical steps to make engines & propulsion as sustainable as possible
Online Conference
Live

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 4, Session 1 - Episode 1: Practical steps to make engines & propulsion as sustainable as possible

Started from : November 23, 2023
Available until : August 8, 2026
Online Session
Workboat Code 3
Seawork 2024
Live

Workboat Code 3

Started from : June 13, 2024
Available until : July 30, 2026
Online Session
Workboat Association Technical Workgroup
Hosted - Conference Room 1

Workboat Association Technical Workgroup

Thursday, Jun 12, 2025
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Europe/London

Speaker/Moderator's Sessions (6)

Date

​
Session
Live - In-Person Event
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 5 Session 2 - Driving future efficiency with innovation, skills, fuels & infrastructure
Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Live
English

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 5 Session 2 - Driving future efficiency with innovation, skills, fuels & infrastructure

SPONSORED BY:

  

The ‘Get Set for Workboat 2050’ series of conferences deals with decarbonisation and improving OPEX efficiencies. In partnership with The Workboat Association and the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners, Session 2 of the current series takes place at the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam.

The Dutch commercial marine and workboat sector offers many diverse elements and is one of the largest and busiest in Europe.

Join the 1-day conference to gain insights and updates from leading experts as the industry navigates geopolitical challenges, confronts future skills gaps, and embraces OPEX efficiencies. It also offers a great opportunity to meet and network with colleagues, old and new.

Get Set for Workboat 2050 Series 5 is supported by
    
Speakers (12)
Max Baan
Co Founder & CFO, ParaPy
Herman Broers
Director, Nederlands Loodswezen B.V.
Moderators (2)
Kerrie Forster
CEO, Workboat Association
Session
Seawork - Conference Room 1
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Propulsion systems - the Good, the Bad, and the Reality
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2025
9:50 AM - 11:00 AM | Europe/London
Live
English

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Propulsion systems - the Good, the Bad, and the Reality

The Good, The Bad and The Reality

Workboats face a complex propulsion evolution, with efficiency, sustainability, and practicality shaping future choices.

Propulsion systems come with individual advantages and trade-offs, shaped by operational demands, vessel design, plus challenging weather and sea conditions. In this session we will be discussing the Good, the Bad, and the Reality of vessel propulsion choice and how they each affect a vessels overall efficiency.
Our expert speakers will tackle key discussion points on reliability, power, range and manoeuvrability with the realities of capital costs, supply chain challenges, emissions reduction and regulatory pressure.
Seawork 2025 Jun 10
Presented by Seawork
Speakers (5)
James McPaul
Application Engineer, Volvo Penta
Alex Stevens
Technical Sales Director, Cjr propulsion
Moderators (2)
Kerrie Forster
CEO, Workboat Association
Session
Hosted - Conference Room 2
The Workboat Association Safety Forum - Prevention of hand and finger injuries
Wednesday, Jun 11, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Europe/London
Live
English

The Workboat Association Safety Forum - Prevention of hand and finger injuries

Join the Workboat Association live at Seawork on Wednesday 11 June 2025 to discuss and learn about the prevention of hand and finger injuries. Do you have a story to share? Are you a manufacturer of PPE, Safety Guards, or equipment that could help to prevent injury to hands or fingers? Are you a safety professional with experience of the challenge? An employer looking to learn? Or, an employee looking for something that works, whilst also letting you do your job suitably? Come and join us.
 
The session, running from 14:00 – 15:00 in the conference rooms, will bring together knowledge from across the industry and out, with an aim to share best practice, latest concepts and altogether highlight this serious cause of ongoing significant injury within the workplace.

This session is open to all Seawork visitors. 
Seawork 2025 Jun 11
Hosted by Seawork
Moderators (4)
Gareth Bonner
Workgroup Officer
Session
Hosted - Conference Room 1
Workboat Association Technical Workgroup
Thursday, Jun 12, 2025
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Europe/London
Live
English

Workboat Association Technical Workgroup

Join the Workboat Association Technical Workgroup for an industry open session to discuss the current and incoming changes to the small vessel codes of practice (regulations).
Workgroup Chairman Andy Page will be speaking with Rob Taylor, Code Vessel lead at the MCA, and joined on stage by representatives of industry and the Certifying Authorities, to discuss where things are at with Workboat Code 3 and the publishing of the NEW* Sport and Pleasure Code.
 
Topics to be discussed include:
  • Workboats, including Pilot Boats
  • Light Duty Workboats
  • Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure
  • Autonomous and Remotely Operated Unmanned Vessels
  • Search and Rescue Vessels


This session is open to all Seawork visitors - both Workboat Association members and non-members.
Hosted by Seawork
Seawork 2025 Jun 12
Speakers (4)
Owen Preece
Managing Director, Mecal
Mike Schwarz
CEO, IIMS
Moderators (2)
Kerrie Forster
CEO, Workboat Association
Session
Live - In-Person Event
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 6, Session 1 - Autonomous and Remote-Operated Vessels: Operational Scaling and Regulatory Alignment
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Live
English

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Series 6, Session 1 - Autonomous and Remote-Operated Vessels: Operational Scaling and Regulatory Alignment

In partnership with Seawork, Maritime Journal and The Workboat Association, we present Session 1 of Series 6 - Autonomous and Remote-Operated Vessels: Operational Scaling and Regulatory Alignment. It will take place at The Workboat Association AGM in November.   

The topical and informative “in-person” session will explore the following: 

•    Examine the classification of maritime autonomy — remote-operated, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous — and how emerging IMO frameworks are shaping their deployment.
•    Assess the operational and workforce implications of autonomy, including task automation, system supervision, and the integration of advanced control software.
•    Analyse the drivers behind the transition to autonomous and remote-operated workboats and explore strategies for scalable implementation across fleet operations.

The session will take place on the afternoon of Monday 18 November, at the Workboat Association AGM, Oulton Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. 


Get Set for Workboat 2050 Series 6, session 1 is free-to-attend, but delegates should note that other events at Oulton Hall are for The Workboat Association members only.  

Get Set for Workboat 2050 Series 6 is sponsored by 


Get Set for Workboat 2050
Speakers (4)
Simon Adams
Founder & Director, The USV Group
Esme Flegg
Innovative Technology Lead, Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Moderators (2)
Kerrie Forster
CEO, Workboat Association
Session
Live - In-Person Event
Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Lifecycle Emissions Accounting and Carbon Capture Technologies
Tuesday, Jun 9, 2026
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM | Europe/London
Live
English

Get Set for Workboat 2050 - Lifecycle Emissions Accounting and Carbon Capture Technologies

•    Delve into holistic emissions accounting that encompasses vessel construction, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal — comparing the total carbon footprint of new builds versus retrofits.
•    Evaluate the technical and operational feasibility of onboard carbon capture systems tailored for workboats, including measurement accuracy and integration challenges.
•    Discuss how onboard capture technologies can interface with emerging port-based carbon storage infrastructure, enabling end-to-end emissions mitigation strategies within the workboat sector.

Get Set for Workboat 2050 Series 6 is sponsored by

Presented by Seawork
Seawork 2026 Jun 9
Get Set for Workboat 2050
Moderators (2)
Kerrie Forster
CEO, Workboat Association
Starts in
12 weeks
6 days
23hours
15 minutes