MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY RESEARCH PROGRAMME:

STRATEGIC LEVEL MANAGEMENT AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

The research programme

1. The Government's maritime strategy aims to promote safe, efficient and environmentally friendly shipping; the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) Research Programme seeks to support those broad aims.

2. The programme itself is driven by the aims and objectives set out in the MCA's annual Business Plan and Forward Look, which in turn informs the MCA's research strategy.

3. In determining the content of the programme, the MCA takes account of the needs of relevant parts of DfT which, if without their own programme, may voice their research priorities through the Shipping Policy representative responsible for liaising with MCA on maritime research issues or the Maritime Policy Group (MPG). [This aspect may be subject to further review to ensure improved communication and coordination.]

Management of the research programme

4. The day to day running of the programme is done by Maritime Projects Branch. At a strategic level, there is a need for two types of meeting serving the following purposes:

a) to discuss financial and administrative matters and finalise the programme – MCA Research Steering Committee

b) to assess new proposals, evaluate the quality of the outcomes of projects as they complete and review the strategy/research priorities critically – MCA Research Advisory Committee.

5. Both types of meeting require senior level commitment, but do not have identical membership. The membership of b) is to include a range of external experts to act as a peer review of project proposals and outcomes.

Committees’ Terms of Reference

Overall Aims

To ensure objective, focused and efficiently managed maritime research that helps to realise Government's and MCA's aims and strategy and inform relevant policy.

MCA Research Advisory Committee

Functions

• review the research strategy and change strategic priorities where necessary
• consider proposals in the light of the strategy and agree a prioritised programme
• identify and assess areas of actual or potential risk
• ensure the quality of the outcomes of projects
• ensure DFT maritime research needs are known and addressed and that collaboration on research projects with other government research and/or external committees, where appropriate
• consider project results and advise on dissemination and application

Membership

The Research Advisory Committee comprises:

• Chief Executive (chairman)
• Director Operations
• Director of Standards
• A non-executive director
• Representative from DFT's evidence and research strategy division
• Representative from Shipping Policy/Ports divisions
• Representative from Finance and Contracts
• External Advisors (representatives from academe, industry)
• Research Programme Manager and other Maritime Projects representatives
• Project Managers – those with significant projects or bids, to explain or clarify

Frequency of meetings

This committee meets twice a year, once in the autumn to scrutinise proposals for the next financial year and once about six months later to review the strategy and longer term planning.

MCA Research Steering Committee

Functions

• explore evidence gaps and annual research bid and finalise the year's programme
• monitor spending and forecasting
• monitor overall progress and updates from project managers
• deal with requests for additional expenditure
• keep under review research appraisal, monitoring and evaluation practices
• review the research programme and onitor performance against opbjectives

Membership

The Research Advisory Committee comprises:

• Director of Standards (Chairman)
• Director of Operations or divisional director
• Representative from Finance and Contracts
• Representatives from Maritime Projects Branch
• Project Managers from time to time to answer queries or explain complexities

Frequency of meetings

This committee meets twice a year in between the Advisory Committee meetings, typically late in the autumn (after all the proposals have been scrutinised by the Advisory Committee in time for the bidding round) and again in the new financial year as appropriate.

Maritime Projects Branch