Beyond Training: Embedding Safety and Progression at Sea-Cargo

The SEA-CARGO logo features the company name in blue and red capital letters, with two curved red and blue lines above and below the text on a white background.

About Sea-Cargo Aberdeen Limited

Based within the Port of Aberdeen, Sea-Cargo provides stevedoring, shipping and logistics support services, primarily specialising in the loading & unloading of vessels during their port call at Aberdeen. Sea-Cargo also handle large volumes of cargo, with daily requirements to move all types of goods, ranging from standard palletised goods to out of gauge or heavy lifts. To facilitate these work requirements safely, Sea-Cargo utilise a range of plant & equipment from its own fleet of forklifts, it can also utilise external craneage where required by its network of supply chain partners.

Fast-paced & high-risk 

Sea-Cargo work in a high-risk, and highly varied environment. Heavy equipment operates in close quarters, with constant movement around the harbour. In this environment, safety is paramount, and Sea-Cargo places a great deal of trust in its team to ensure all operations are conducted in accordance with its Safety-First Code of Practice. The team understands that safety within the port must come first, and with the additional safety measures implemented by Sea-Cargo, this helps ensure the safety of everyone working alongside each other, it also helps install confidence for the companies who rely on Sea-Cargo to handle their goods safely and securely.

For Garry, Sea-Cargo’s HSEQ Supervisor, the drive for a new framework came from personal experience and recognising there were currently limited resources in place to provide its workforce with the required knowledge, training and skill sets to ensure it can remain fully compliant with the port safety requirements. Having worked his way up from the quayside into a position of  leadership, he wanted to show the team that career progression and development is not only possible but supported. By helping the company invest in a port orientated structured training scheme, he’s helping to build the same opportunities for others to “develop and progress up through the chain.”

A dock worker in orange safety gear signals beside a large forklift moving a heavy pipe at an industrial port, with a crane, ship, containers, and overcast sky in the background.
Two men in safety gear, one in an orange suit and one in a yellow and navy suit, stand outdoors by heavy equipment. The man in orange points and explains something to the other man. Shipping containers are visible in the background.

A Pathway to Progression 

That’s where Rizon came in. Rather than providing an off-the-shelf training course, Rizon worked closely with Sea-Cargo to understand the unique demands of their environment. Together, they began developing a tailored skilled framework designed to:

  • Build in SVQ and apprenticeship-style qualifications tailored specifically to port operations. 
  • Provide robust, role-specific training that gives staff the confidence to operate safely.
  • Cover wider operational needs such as transport and dangerous goods handling, vehicle marshalling, and leadership development, ensuring capability across all areas of the business.
  • Embedded training into Sea-Cargo’s operations as an ongoing programme, not a one-off exercise.

Two people sit at a small round table in an office, looking at an open brochure with images and text. One person is pointing at the brochure. Both are wearing black shirts, and office workers are visible in the background.
A man in an orange safety suit and white helmet holds a thick metal cable while talking to two men in yellow and green safety gear and helmets at an industrial site. Other workers are visible in the background.

This approach, while still in its early days, has already shifted the relationship from transactional training to a true partnership, focused on building a long-term framework for safety, skills, and operational excellence. It demonstrates how Sea-Cargo is leading the way by investing in the future of their business and helping to shape the future and skills of its workforce that will drive it going forwards.

“I know what it’s like to start on the quayside and learn on the job. But I also know how important it is to have the right support and structure in place. Investing in training helps  future-proofs Sea-Cargo, and this framework means our people can see a pathway for themselves. We can be confident that every step of the way, we are providing our team with the required skills and competency to safely carry out their role. ”

Garry Stewart, HSEQ Supervisor, Sea-Cargo
Two workers wearing safety helmets and high-visibility clothing stand next to a storage rack filled with green gas cylinders. One person has rizon and other text on their orange coveralls.
A worker in orange coveralls and a white helmet operates a forklift, lifting a pallet onto a high shelf in a warehouse with tall racks filled with various boxes and items.

Delivering with Confidence 

For Sea-Cargo, this collaboration has already begun to deliver value:

Improved safety & confidence – staff know they are competent, clients know they are protected.

Employee motivation – clear pathways incentivise staff to progress.

Stronger recruitment & retention – investing in people makes Sea-Cargo a more attractive employer.

Compliance and credibility – a trained, qualified workforce reassures supply chain partners and insurers who expect high standards.

Strategic alignment – Port specific training now forms an intricate part of Sea-Cargo’s operational strategy.

By embedding competence and safety at the core of operations through investment in training, Sea-Cargo are shaping a workplace culture where people, performance, and protection go hand-in-hand, and shaping the future of skills and progression within the port industry.

Two people in orange safety uniforms and white helmets stand in front of a large red container handler at a shipping yard, with one person pointing toward the machine’s raised lifting arm.

Courses utilised as elements of the programme include:

Forklift Manager & Supervisor Training

Develop the knowledge and awareness to oversee forklift operations effectively, ensuring safe practices, compliance and strong operator performance.
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Dangerous Goods by Sea

Learn how to transport dangerous goods by sea safely and compliantly.
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