Paul Coates

Having served in the Royal Navy for 5 years, after which he came ashore and served for 30 years in Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, both as a Fire Station Commander and Flexible Duty Officer responding as Incident Commander or in other specialist roles.

He established, trained, and managed the Hampshire’s MIRG (Maritime Incident Response Group) team and has responded to ship fires as both on-scene Commander and Specialist Marine Officer. He has served as a HMEPO (Hazardous Materials & Environmental Protection Officer) and a D.I.M (Detection Identification & Monitoring) Officer. Paul has responded to numerous IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods), Hazmat, drug laboratory and environmental protection incidents. He has designed and delivered IMDG and HAZMAT awareness courses for Health & Safety personnel.

Paul advises on Hazmat incidents and Lithium-Ion Battery safety on vessels and has investigated fatal Confined Space incidents, for the National Crime Agency / HSE and court.

He has trained Seafarers in Basic and Advanced STCW Maritime & OPITO courses at Warsash, FireAid and the Fire Service College and has designed and delivered ongoing STCW training for superyacht crews, covering firefighting, Lithium-ion Battery fire safety and confined space.

Paul is an associate instructor at the UK Fire Service College. He is the Subject Matter Expert for marine firefighting for senior officers attending ship fires. He is also an Incident Command Assessor.

Paul has worked as a Dry Dock Supervisor during cruise ship refits, he was responsible for reviewing and approving the preparations for hot work, enclosed space entry and working at height.

Paul saw active service in the Falklands on HMS Sheffield, which was hit by an Exocet missile and was involved in the firefighting for 5 hours before being ordered to abandon ship.