About Us

Kevin Walters

Kevin Walters

Managing Director

Kevin has over [pa_dynamic_years_number] years experience in the UK Domestic Passenger Vessel Industry. Gaining his Boatmasters Licence in 1980, he worked for various South Coast operators.

He went on to gain both an HND and a 2:1 Honours Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering as a mature student, before spending a few years writing Embedded Systems Software. During this time Kevin continued to work as a Master on various local passenger vessels.

In 1996 Kevin left the electronics industry and went into partnership, purchasing a third share in Croson Ltd. He became Operations Director and Senior Master of the Dorset Belles operating from Poole, Bournemouth Swanage and the Isle of Wight.
 
In 1998 Kevin started his own business Blue Line Cruises Ltd,  purchasing  the vessel Solent Scene. He operated this from Poole to Swanage and the Jurassic Coast with excursions to Southampton and the Solent.

In 2009 the company expanded with the purchase of Jurassic Scene and he teamed up with his partner Carol Scott, who had previously operated passenger vessels in Torbay. Together they bid for and succeeded in winning the tender for operations from Bournemouth pier.

In 2014 Kevin sold his business to City Cruises, he remained as General Manager and Senior Master with the new owners until the end of August 2015.

In 2016 Kevin started his current business UK Maritime Services Limited. Both UK Passsenger Vessel Consultancy and UKPVC are trading names.
 
Kevin has spent the last nine years as chairman of the Passenger Vessel Operators Association, a national association supporting domestic passenger vessel operators. In the past Kevin has had a seat on the Passenger Boat Association Steering Group, who are part of British Marine. He has also worked closely with the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames.
 
Kevin sits on various committees at the MCA including the Domestic Passenger Ship Steering Group (D.P.S.S.G) and the Southern District Marine Safety Committee, representing domestic passenger vessel operators.

Kevin has been fully involved in legislative consultations including those relating to the revised Boatmasters Licence, MSN1823, the Small Seagoing Passenger Ship Code and The Reviewing of Standards for Older Passenger Vessels (Grandfather Rights).

Kevin has Tier 1 level 2 Boatmasters Licence, a commercially endorsed Yacht Master Offshore Certificate. He has Nautical Institute DPA and Nautical Institute Lead Auditor Qualifications.