The Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA) was formally established in January 2004, and brought together the Fish Catching, Marine Leisure, Ports and Shipping industries in a strategic alliance to focus on the skills needs of the maritime sector.

The scope of the MSA was originally defined in an independent study funded by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) which identified that there was a unique maritime "footprint" (available on publication downloads) that would not be covered by any existing or proposed Sector Skills Council. As a result it was agreed with the SSDA that the MSA should be regarded as the Sector Body for maritime skills issues. Subsequently The British Marine Federation (BMF) decided that the interests of those of its members who were primarily concerned with marine leisure activities (including the Royal Yachting Association) would be best served by becoming a member of the MSA.

More recently the Alliance has welcomed into membership the Maritime and Coastguard Agency the UK regulatory body for seafaring occupations and the Royal Navy and British Tugowners Association. The scope of the MSA has therefore been extended to take account of these additions and also includes other commercial water born activities relating to rivers and non-tidal waters as well as search and rescue.

The current coverage of the MSA can be found on the Maritime Sector page

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