Maritime Sea Vision UK’s guide to careers in the maritime sector www.seavisionuk.org ...take a fresh look at the Sea Careers4 Courses4 Case studies4 Take a fresh look at the “The 50,000 ships that make up the international trading fleet are technically sophisticated, high value assets. The cost of a new ship can easily exceed US $100 million.” sea S ea Vision UK brings together the whole maritime sector to promote the role of the sea in our lives and highlight the variety of careers available. As you will see, the maritime sector covers everything from shipping to sub-sea technology; manufacturing to education; the Royal Navy to commercial fishing; ports to aquaculture; maritime legal and financial services to leisure. There’s so much to choose from. The UK has a great maritime history and today boasts the largest maritime sector in Europe. With a turnover of over £40 billion – twice the size of aerospace or agriculture – and employing hundreds of thousands of people, the sector makes a massive contribution to our economy. Millions travel to, from and around the UK by ferry each year. We are technological leaders in offshore oil and gas extraction, and strong in marine manufacturing. The Royal Navy is one of the strongest navies in the world; we are world-beaters in yacht design, building and racing; we have some of the most prestigious cruise companies in the world; British seafarers are renowned for their expertise; and London is the world centre for maritime financial and legal services. • Our seas are vital to trade, energy, defence, leisure and the environment. • The UK maritime sector makes a major contribution to our economy and quality of life. • Our maritime industries are modern and high-tech and offer excellent career opportunities. Through the Sea Vision UK website (www.seavisionuk.org) you can find out about events and organisations that can help you to get a taste of the sea – wherever you live – and find out what the wider maritime sector offers in terms of work, leisure and lifestyle opportunities. Hopefully, this careers magazine will whet your appetite! www.seavisionuk.org 2 | MARITIME Sea Vision UK is honoured to have HRH The Princess Royal as its Patron. CONTENTS Contents 04 Foreword – Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB ADC 05 Take the plunge 07 Maritime business 14 Maritime education & training 20 Maritime leisure 26 Maritime science, engineering & technology (SET) 32 Marine environment & conservation 36 Sea going 52 Ports & services 56 Which course? 58 Find out about foundation degrees 60 University and College course directory MARITIME | 3 Foreword Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB ADC First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff A s the professional head of the Royal Navy I am delighted to support Sea Vision’s guide to the wide variety of opportunities in the Maritime Sector. Although very few people are aware of it, the UK is almost entirely dependent on the sea for our strength, wealth and prosperity. Over 90% of our visible trade moves by sea and shipping is the fifth largest contributor to our gross domestic product. Worldwide, the shipping industry continues to expand exponentially to meet the demands of globalisation – involving 50,000 ships and over a million seafarers. Indeed, since I joined the Royal Navy 40 years ago, the world’s population has doubled yet maritime trade has quadrupled. But whilst the sea remains a principle facilitator for the continued globalisation of economies and trade, the rising threat of terrorism, piracy and illegal use of the sea threatens to disrupt this. Accordingly, the Royal Navy is utterly seized of the imperative to provide security for British trade, British citizens and our interests worldwide, together with our other responsibilities for providing influence around the globe, building trust and cooperation, acting as a force for good and when it becomes necessary, fighting and winning. 4 | MARITIME The inherent agility of the Royal Navy means we are still as much about preventing wars as winning them. Of course, my own experiences are based upon a life at sea with the Royal Navy, which has provided me with a very fulfilling career. Something told me that variety, excitement, travel and teamwork would appeal and suit me and I have certainly not been disappointed. I would highlight the wide range of activity and comradeship the Navy offers – the Navy is much more than a job, it is a way of life. In addition to the excitement, travel and differing jobs, the Royal Navy gives individuals real responsibility early and provides fantastic experience in management and, in particular, leadership, as well as equipping them with a certain level of confidence and competence. For instance, in my own case, within 12 years of joining, at the age of 29, I was the commanding officer of HMS Soberton, a fishery protection vessel operating around the UK, commanding 40 sailors and working, largely independently, to protect our fish stocks. So whether you choose the Merchant Navy, the maritime leisure industry or service in the Royal Navy, a career in the maritime industry offers an enormous amount of possibilities and I hope you find Maritime a useful guide in exploring that potential. “A career in the maritime industry offers an enormous amount of possibilities and I hope you find Maritime a useful guide in exploring that potential.” FOREWORD Take the plunge H ave you any idea how varied and interesting the maritime sector is, or the role it plays in our everyday lives? Over 350 organisations have joined together in a campaign called Sea Vision UK. This magazine has been produced by many of those organisations to show you what career options are available in the maritime sector. Look at this list: •water sports instructors •naval architects •ship’s captains •hydrographers •offshore divers •lawyers •shipbrokers •chefs and entertainers These are just some of the job opportunities waiting for you. Think about these: Jet skis, racing yachts and power boats, oil tankers, containerships and cruise liners, marine biology, mineral exploration and oceanography, ship design, boat building and port management. In the UK we live on an island and marine-related activities are vital to our economy. With increasing world trade and growing maritime leisure interests, the range of supporting maritime activities is always growing. In this magazine, we have highlighted a range of careers with profiles of people working across a variety of maritime sectors. Read on and find out about the different career paths and jobs roles in the maritime sector – there’s something for everyone! MARITIME | 5 liverpool maritime academy The Liverpool Maritime Academy brings together the expertise of Liverpool John Moores University, the Lairdside Maritime Centre and the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine Centre. It provides a national centre of excellence, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, professional training, applied research and consultancy to the maritime, offshore and transport industries. Programmes for school leavers looking to enter the industry: � Foundation Degree in Nautical Science � BSc Management,Transport and Logistics � BSc Maritime Studies � BEng Mechanical and Marine Engineering � BSc Maritime Business and Management � BSc Nautical Science For details, contact Helen Guest, Lairdside Maritime Centre, 3Vanguard Way, Campbeltown Road, Birkenhead. CH41 9HX. tel: +44 151 647 0494 email: careersatsea@ljmu.ac.uk 6 | MARITIME MARITIME BUSINESS Maritime business Shipbrokers Brokers manage the sale and purchase purchase new and second-hand ships. They act for both the buyer and the seller and negotiate price, assess value, check on the ownership of the vessel, the liability for VAT and frequently organise finance and insurance. They are adept at import and export, and arrange practical things like access for viewing at ports or berths. T his section covers all aspects of the wider shipping industry – including operation, commercial control and manufacturing. The ownership and operation of ships is the primary focus and much of London’s growth over the centuries was due to its role as a major financial centre – particularly in the maritime sector. Famous names like Lloyd’s of London owe their origins to the development of shipping insurance back in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. London remains the capital for world shipping today. Today, maritime business offers job opportunities ranging from: • marine insurers, shipbrokers, accountants, bankers, vessel financiers and charterers • lawyers and arbitrators • shipbuilders and manufacturers • ship managers and port managers. And this isn’t the definitive list! Our job profiles give some indication of what’s available but do contact any of the organisations profiled here for more detailed information about the opportunities in maritime business (or see www.seavisionuk.org). Brokers need a detailed knowledge of a wide range of ships, so that they can assess their condition and value. They rely heavily on experience in the shipping industry and will build up a pool of clients with ships for sale and also of clients looking for vessels. Brokers need marketing skills and to be able to negotiate in a friendly and effective manner. Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers The Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association is involved in activities to make sure that all UK shipyards, their suppliers and subcontractors have up-to-date skills and technology at their fingertips to make their businesses successful. With a major new Ministry of Defence order to build destroyers, aircraft carriers and support vessels over the next 20 years and beyond, there are great opportunities ahead in these businesses. MARITIME | 7 Marine Finance Lawyer TOBY ROYAL, Watson, Farley & Williams LLP “My day starts at 6.00am when I get woken by my son and attend to perhaps my most demanding client of all! Next, it’s time to check what’s happened overnight: what do I have to chase by 11.00am before the other side of the world goes to sleep? Did the Chinese shipyard’s lawyers agree the form of parent guarantee? Did the Korean bank issue the refund guarantee? Did our Japanese correspondent lawyers issue their legal opinion? Did the Singaporean bank finalise the term sheet? Did my Russian clients email me back about those two newbuildings (ships) being delivered next week and where do we stand concerning those four bulk carriers being purchased? I power up my Blackberry and it starts beeping at me. I soon see a trail of emails with attachments flood through; a day in the office begins. It’s time to get my head around that new deal structure before a conference call with the other side’s lawyers. Diagrams make deals conceptually easier to follow so I put the deal structure on to paper, marking out the equity and “All work and no play makes a ship finance lawyer a dull buoy…speaking of play, there are often ‘shippingsocial’ events which you provide a good balance between work and play.” Advertorial – Maritime London John Noble airborne on way to a casualty Any young person about to embark on a seafaring career today has an exciting future ahead of them. Learning about all the shipboard systems provides a real challenge, ships officers have awesome responsibilities for the safety of fellow crew members, passengers and millions of pounds worth of ship, cargo and equipment. Attaining the highest seagoing qualifications and experience can offer a really challenging future. History has shown that, even in the most safety conscious cultures, accidents can still happen. Many related industries require the seagoing knowledge and experience obtained when looking into why certain events took place. Questions such as “Why did the ship run aground?” or “Why did the engine room catch fire?” will always need to be addressed. The marine consultant plays a role in providing the answers. Lawyers often need marine expertise when dealing with the out of the ordinary; the marine consultant can provide the expertise and integrity such a role will require. Trainees who join the Merchant Navy through the Maritime London Officer Cadet Scholarship scheme have an unrivalled opportunity to establish contact with many different skills now found in the City, including marine consultancy; indeed an unique opportunity. I joined a shipping company as cadet then worked my way through the various examinations to Class 1. Having then graduated with a degree, I was able to develop as a marine consultant, ultimately specialising in issues surrounding salvage, wrecks and oil pollution. The foundation of this career was many years at sea! Written By John Noble, MLOCS Executive Director. 8 | MARITIME syndicated debt providers, the borrowers, owners, bareboat charterers, time charterers, guarantors, shareholders – it’s almost a work of art! The key to all this is being intrinsically organised – keeping your deal lists organised, files up to date, having an active to-do list and utilising technology (such as e-filing) to your advantage. You quickly learn that extra time spent on administrative matters is time well spent and it certainly makes your life easier when your client calls and asks for the date of that agreement from the deal four months ago. The great thing about ship finance work is that, although you work with different time zones from London and more often than not need to align your timings to your project colleagues, internationalism and diversity is second to none – you deal with people from everywhere. All work and no play makes a ship finance lawyer a dull buoy… there are often ‘shipping-social’ events such as drinks evenings, which provide a good balance between work and play! Shipping is a 24 hour business; overnight there are cargoes being delivered, containers being offloaded, maybe even a ship making her maiden voyage… it all helps the world go around.” The Maritime London Officer Cadet Scholarship scheme offers bursaries to those wishing to embark on a seafaring career. Selected candidates will be awarded a grant to meet day-today costs and out-of-pocket expenses; in addition the Charity funds college fees and some incidental expenses. Encouragement is provided to all cadets who will be following an HND or Degree course in addition to their vocational training. Many cadets are sponsored through the charity by donations received from leading City maritime sector companies such as underwriters, surveyors, lawyers and P & I Clubs. The Maritime London Officer Cadet charity offers scholarships to Deck, Engine room and Electrical trainees. Contact us through John Noble, our Executive Director on: Tel: 023 8079 0395 Email: noble_marine@btinternet.com Patron: Lord Ambrose Greenway Charity Number: 1013834 MARITIME BUSINESS Advertorial – Viking Recruitmentadvertisement feature Viking sponsorships on cruise liners Viking engages individuals with a view to sponsorship for a number of the most esteemed cruise shipping companies in the world – Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Island Cruises and Fred Olsen Cruise Line. Our principal clients are arguably some of the most prestigious of the major cruise line operators in the world, and between them they operate fleets of classically designed vessels. These fleets visit exotic destinations and are run to the highest standards of safety, service and professionalism by the onboard officers. It is into this exciting and demanding environment that we wish to encourage prospective deck officers and engine officers by providing industry-recognised training and career development. ‘Job satisfaction is a phrase often used today to describe why certain careers are more appealing than others. When it comes to life at sea, there’s a high level of job satisfaction in everything, from pay and colleagues to career advancement and working environment. Officer training is the beginning of a journey that could take you anywhere you want to go.’ Peter Stamp, Viking Recruitment Engine Officer Trainee LET US SHOW YOU THE WORLD A career for tomorrow, today Have you ever dreamed of sailing on a luxury cruise liner to the most exotic places on earth? Have you ever thought you could do this for a career? YOU CAN. We recruit high calibre individuals to embark on a fully sponsored Officer Training programme, studying towards industry and nationally recognised qualifications. You will have the enviable opportunity of serving on some of the most luxurious and technically advanced cruise line vessels sailing the seven seas today. FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION, ENJOY YOUR LIFE To find out more about this incredible opportunity, please visit our website www.vikingrecruitment.com Alternatively, for an informal discussion contact the Company Training Offficer on: Tel: 01304 240881 or Email: training@vikingrecruitment.com MARITIME | 9 Boat Charter Business RICHARD HUDSON, Tangaroa Charters “Living on an island means you’re always surrounded by sea, so for me it was kind of a natural thing. I started sailing and generally messing around on the water from a very young age. It wasn’t until my dad started designing and building boats that I really got into it: suddenly it clicked, this is what I want to do. I always thought the lifestyle wasn’t half bad either. I completed my GCSE’s at Medina High School and then decided to take further qualifications in the marine environment. I obtained various powerboat courses resulting in a commercially endorsed powerboat advanced qualification. Along with this, I have studied many STCW95 courses to enable me to qualify for an MCA Passenger Carrying License. I started the company this year and run it with my dad. Our company runs a charter boat, used by tourists and locals for a variety of things. This includes anything from an hour’s mackerel bashing to eight hours serious cod fishing. Press and photography to corporate or private charter, we do it all! As company secretary, I am responsible for keeping the accounts together, doing VAT and Fuel Duty returns, through to taking the bookings and organising crew. When I’m skippering the vessel, my main job is to ensure safe passage for all onboard. This includes keeping a good lookout, following “The good thing with having your own business is that you can take it to where ever you want to. As they say, the world is your oyster!” Ship Surveyor ADRIAN DUNCAN, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping “Having been born and brought up in a seafaring town (Stranraer), I was naturally interested in ships and going to 10 | MARITIME all the rules of the road. It keeps me very busy, but when at anchor I do occasionally participate! The most rewarding part of this environment is when the customers are pleased with the service we have provided. If they catch lots of fish or take some decent photos and go home with a smile, then I know we’ve done well! My main challenge is nature; she always keeps me on my toes, and you never know what weather we will have next. The good thing with having your own business is that you can take it to where ever you want to. As they say, the world is your oyster!” sea, so I trained as an Engineer Cadet at South Tyneside College. Since then, I have worked in many different positions on various different vessels. I have progressed through the ranks steadily obtaining my Certificates of Competency along the way. I decided to continue my education at sea where I studied with the Open University for three years. More recently, I have worked as an Assistant Superintendent where I was recruited by Lloyd’s Register and I have also worked for a Marine Consultants (TQMS) in London. I hope to get up to speed quickly within Lloyd’s Register and to get a good posting when I am competent with Class Issues. What I love about the job is being able to solve problems, using my experience and the equipment available to diagnose and correct problems. This is very satisfying, especially if it is critical. To do this job, you have to be analytical and methodical in your approach. You need to be able to work alone or in groups of people of different abilities and cultural backgrounds. You also need to be focused and dedicated to your task. You also need to believe that ‘Engineering Makes the World Go Round!’ I will work for two years as a Surveyor at Lloyd’s Register until I am eligible to apply for Chartered Engineer status, and I will continue my education with a distance-learning MBA. I also hope to obtain a Business MBA and perhaps a Marine Law post-graduate qualification. If this happens I think I would be in a good position to start my own consultancy company and work for myself in this exciting and challenging sector.” MARITIME BUSINESS For careers in the global shipping industry... ...Faststream is your first port of call. Faststream recruit from graduate through to senior executive level in the global shipping industry. For more information visit www.faststream.co.uk/shipping t: +44 (0)23 8033 4444 e: shipping@faststream.co.uk www.faststream.co.uk Shipbroking – a rewarding shipping career • Match ships & cargoes • Buy & sell vessels • Trade freight derivatives Responsible for helping to keep global trade moving, successful shipbrokers are good negotiators, entrepreneurial and hard working. See www.balticexchange.com/ vacancies for further details. The Baltic Exchange, 38 St Mary Ave, London EC3A 8BH Advertorial – Fast Stream Calling on candidates Global recruitment firm Faststream reports that there are many opportunities for candidates seeking shore-based roles. As a leading specialist recruitment firm for the global shipping industry with offices in the UK, Scandinavia, Asia and the US, we are witnessing continued demand for candidates in commercial roles. Shipbrokers, chartering managers, financiers, freight derivative traders, operators and lawyers are currently in demand as never before. In terms of the size of the global fleet, the shipping industry continues to grow at a fast pace. Shipping companies around the world have been expanding at breakneck speed. New companies have emerged and established operations expanded in Europe, Asia and the USA. Analysis of the shipyards’ forward bookings reveals a record orderbook of nearly 600 million deadweight tonnes (dwt). If we limit ourselves to vessels of 10,000 dwt or larger (to ensure we are dealing with large oceangoing vessels), there are about 7,637 vessels of 578 million dwt on order at the world’s shipyards. Most of these vessels will deliver between now and 2010. Whether or not global economic demand will pick up again to meet demand for these vessels at high freight rates remains debatable, but one thing is certain. More ships mean a greater requirement for not only seafarers, but also onshore support staff and ancillary services industries. From ship operations to finance, chartering to legal advice, the range of work generated by a single vessel is vast and requires a range of specialists to service this business. Shipowning companies in particular face a huge lack of qualified candidates for their operational and technical departments. While difficult to say how many new jobs will be generated by these new vessels, the scale of fleet growth will ensure that job growth is substantial. Existing jobs will also become more demanding as regulatory changes and new technology ensure that specialist experience or qualifications will be needed. However this increased demand for people comes at a time when the market is increasingly candidate-short. Shipping is a niche sector and commercial roles within it require candidates with a specialist set of skills which cannot be built up overnight. From Singapore to London, global shipping centres and the companies operating within them are competing for talent. For the graduate or school leaver considering a role in the shipping business, there are many paths to entry. Some companies take on graduate trainees, others require people with seafaring experience. There are specialist maritime business degrees offered by universities such as Cass Business School, Plymouth, Cardiff and Liverpool. However, many people start in the business without a specialist maritime background. Given the international nature of the business, language skills are a bonus, as is a willingness to work long hours and undertake travel. If you are interested in the many commercial or technical opportunities available across the maritime industry, visit www.faststream.co.uk for the latest roles. MARITIME | 11 Maritime Journalist JESSICA LEPOIDEVIN, The Sea magazine “There’s always something new to learn and write about, especially when the subject matter is the sea.” “As a qualified diver, I’ve always loved the sea, so when the opportunity arose to work on the editorial team at The Sea magazine, where I get to write about the marine world, it seemed like a perfect fit. I have a Bachelor’s degree and I did a post-graduate specialisation in publishing. Studying for a career in publishing involves plenty of unpaid internships, which are not just about learning the tools of the trade, but about getting your foot in the door. After completing my training and placements, I was lucky enough to be able to move into freelance writing and editing. I’m part of the editorial team responsible for the content of the magazine. I track down stories, write features, source images. There is a lot of liaising with colleagues, including our senior editor and art editor – and making sure deadlines are met. It’s really a team effort! Working closely with a dedicated team of editorial professionals is a lot of fun, and it’s a very creative and fast-paced environment. I can also say that it’s never boring! There’s always something new to learn and write about, especially when the subject matter is the sea. The sea is a hugely diverse subject to write about, and The Sea magazine reflects this diversity, so every story is unique and exciting. A day at ‘work’ can involve anything from tagging sharks or interviewing a champion freediver, to racing sailing.” Move in the right circles MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance MSc in Logistics, Trade and Finance MSc in Energy, Trade and Finance Cass business School is located in London’s financial district, the heart of global business. Its highly regarded and world-renowned International Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance, brings together industry leaders, government figures and senior academics to input into its three unique specialist Masters programmes. Throughout its history the Centre has broken new ground in research and teaching, ensuring its students not only get the most up to date and relevant teaching but also a brand of hands-on learning that puts them ahead of the competition. Discover how you can move in the right circles by attending one of our regular information sessions. Contact us on +44 (0)20 7040 8641 or visit www.cass.city.ac.uk/masters to book your place. www.cass.city.ac.uk/masters 12 | MARITIME MARITIME BUSINESS Museum Exhibitions Manager DAN MATTHEWS, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich “I have always been passionate about the sea – there are strong maritime links within my family, and I am a keen sailor. I have always been interested in history and so working at the National Maritime Museum (NMM) gives me an opportunity to combine these things. For me, working on exhibitions is a great way of combining an interest in the subject with the chance to work in a dynamic and creative environment. I have a BA in Contemporary History (from Sussex University) and also an MA in Museum Studies (University of Leicester) which I took part-time while working at the museum. The museum provides good opportunities to attend training courses, but I find that there is no substitute for practical experience and I am a firm believer that the best form of training is ‘on the job’! I work in the exhibitions and design team within the museum. We are responsible for delivering the museum’s exhibition programme over our three sites; the Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory. The great thing about this role is the diversity of projects I get to work on and the variety of things I might have to do on any given day. Having been assigned a project to work on, my main objectives are to ensure the project runs smoothly, remains within budget and that it opens on time! The size and scope of projects vary enormously. This year I managed an exhibition on our 17th-century Dutch art collection and I am currently working on a photography exhibition, a contemporary art installation and a display on the Olympics. Prior to that, I was working on galleries about time and navigation and also astronomy (at the Royal Observatory). Despite what people might think, given the stereotype of museums being old and dusty places, they can be incredibly stimulating places to work. Working in exhibitions has given me all sorts of opportunities that I would have never imagined: I visited Taiwan last year to investigate the feasibility of touring an exhibition there; I got a chance to look through the meteorite collection at the Natural History Museum while working on galleries about astronomy, and I met the Queen when she came to open these galleries last year. The sector is becoming increasingly professionalised and so there are opportunities for many different types of careers within museums, not least at the NMM.” 32140 SeaVision ad 125x86 v3 21/10/08 14:20 Page 1 Director of Communications BILL LINES, Navigate PR “Leaving university, I wanted a job where I could use my writing skills. A position as a trainee journalist covering the shipping sector came up and I took it without really knowing much about the industry. This gave me a good overview of the sector and my next job was as communications manager at the Baltic Exchange. I have a BA Hons in German and European Studies from the University of Manchester. We organise PR, marketing and conference organising and look after a range of international clients from across the shipping sector and I handle a range of media-related issues. I regularly give presentations, run training courses and set up high level conferences. I set up Navigate in 2003 and have greatly enjoyed growing the business. From two clients and a shared desk in Soho, the organisation has grown rapidly as companies turn to us to help get their message across effectively. The maritime industry offers a huge range of prospects. Whether you’re a creative, technical or commercially-minded person there’s probably an interesting job in the industry for you.” The British Marine Federation (BMF) represents businesses in the UK leisure marine industry that in total employ over 30,000 people. Opportunities in our industry include: • Boatbuilders and engineers • Specialist skilled staff such as carpenters • Watersports crew and instructors • Marina staff • Sales and Marketing staff Visit our websites for more information on these opportunities including a job search, colleges list and details of apprenticeship schemes. www.britishmarine.co.uk/careers www.superyachtuk.co.uk MARITIME | 13 Maritime education & training T here are a variety of different organisations involved in education and training in the maritime sector: specialised nautical colleges and training establishments; universities offering maritime related courses; professional institutions and societies; and industry recognised policysetting bodies. You can find out about some of these organisations and what they have to offer in the case studies here. For instance, if you’re interested in gaining relevant skills for a career in maritime business, then the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers runs internationally recognised qualifications for shipbrokers, charterers, agents and managers. Many colleges and universities offer courses in marine biology and zoology, small craft technology, marine engineering, oceanology, ship and port operations, navigation, transport and logistics, and naval architecture, to name but a few. General sources of reference for those interested in a sea-going career are the Merchant Navy Training Board and the Marine Society. If jobs in ports interest you then contact Port Skills and Safety. 14 | MARITIME EDUCATION & TRAINING Senior Lecturer Dr RICHARD BUCKNALL, University College London “I am now a senior lecturer at University College London (UCL) where I undertake research into vessel design with my colleagues who include naval architects, material scientists, and experts in hydrodynamics. The work I do contributes directly to the wider maritime community often through my external committee work with Lloyds Register, the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and working with the design teams in shipping companies. I supervise several PhD students in marine engineering and as a group we constantly develop new technology solutions to meet the increasing demands from the shipping industry, a recent example being a study on the impact of fuel cell technologies for ships. However, my career started as a student engineering apprentice with BP Shipping, but I was always much more interested in the theoretical aspects of engineering than the practical aspects so I went to university to gain a degree and then a PhD. My PhD was sponsored by the Admiralty and I was able to develop an interest in electric propulsion for warships using advanced power dense technologies. I joined UCL some 15 years ago and thoroughly enjoy my job, which includes many different research opportunities and challenges both in the UK and overseas. Another role I have as Director of Marine Engineering is running an MSc in Marine Engineering, which brings me into contact with the aspirations of young people. For leisure, I am a keen sailor and yachtsman.” WARSASH MARITIME ACADEMY Warsash Maritime Academy, a faculty of Southampton Solent University, is a leading provider of education, training, research and consultancy to the international shipping and offshore industries. The Academy provides professional education and training for navigation, engineer and electro-technical officers from initial cadetships, via HND and degree pathways, through to master and chief engineer qualifications. With its expertise and facilities the Academy is ideally placed to provide all the professional education and training that young people need to become successful ship’s masters or chief engineers. Please Contact Us Warsash Maritime Academy, Newtown Road, Warsash, Southampton SO31 9ZL Vanessa Mole T 01489 556295 F 01489 573988 E wma@solent.ac.uk W www.warsashacademy.co.uk seavisionad.indd 1 6/10/08 15:52:20 MARITIME | 15 682147wk35OU273x190 31/8/06 1:53 pm Page 1 Open to study and work The Open University was the first to make university education available to every sector of the UK population. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of our mission. We bring learning opportunities to students of all ages and from all ethnic and social backgrounds. Similarly we employ staff from a diverse range of backgrounds in jobs such as administration, IT, secretarial and admin support, accountancy, maintenance and management as well as academic posts. We have a Black Researchers Group and a BME email network for staff. In addition, we recently set up a prayer room at our campus in Milton Keynes. We are committed to continuing to diversify. Our current diversity initiatives include a widening participation strategy with a continued focus on minority ethnic students for 2006-2009, developing new methods of equal opportunity monitoring and curriculum and course material that benefit from multicultural and multi-ethnic perspectives and international contributions. We are currently recruiting part-time tutors with the ability to give our students a unique learning experience on a range of courses and subjects. We hope that the substantial flexibility of the roles – which helps tutors maintain a balance between their teaching and other commitments – will attract responses from a wide crosssection of the population and further strengthen the diversity of our staff group. If you want to find out more about working with us, we advertise in specialist and local papers, with many jobs appearing in the Guardian as well as on our site at www.open.ac.uk/employment. Details on studying at the Open University can be found at www.open.ac.uk M L O A N EDUCATION & TRAINING Professor of Shiprepair and Conversion GEORGE BRUCE, Newcastle University “Coming to the end of a 40 year career, I can recall being advised to do something more long term instead. But ships always were and will be the main transport for the world, so I joined the industry from school and spent a year learning how ships are built. I then graduated in 1970 from Newcastle University and spent the next four years planning and developing new shipyard developments, which gave me a lot of responsibility at an early stage. Consultancy in shipyard development followed, then a period in research and development of shipbuilding methods. In 1983 I gained an MBA on a part-time basis. The options for further education and development are now much more varied and flexible. After a further 15 years in shipyard consultancy, including running my own company, the next career change was to join Newcastle University. As well as research into shipyard problems I now teach ship production and project management, drawing on my experience in over 40 countries all over the world. Would I do it again? Definitely! Watching new graduates moving into their careers and keeping in touch with their progress shows there are many rewarding job opportunities.” “The options for further education and development are now much more varied and flexible.”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lasgow College of Nautical Studies !2)16$/'1'*#12"'#0 #) *')*/'1'*#%!+0!2( #) *')#+%'+##/'+%%!+0!2( MARITIME | 17 Professional Development Manager KELLY PRICE, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers “Formally, we’re the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), but our title is a little misleading. We should be more aptly titled the Institute to Commercial Shipping because we work to support everyone in the commercial shipping industry (that’s people involved in shipping but who aren’t at sea). So, we are a not-for-profit organisation that helps shipbrokers, ship managers, ship agents, operators, and even those involved in shipping law and finance. My two main roles are working with companies to support the professional development they offer their staff and to help maintain the ICS syllabus which governs the exams and the education for those exams. We’re a professional body, which means that we work to maintain professional standards in the shipping industry. We do this in two main ways. Firstly, we’re a membership organisation. Members of the Institute must illustrate over their careers that they are dedicated to professionalism. People who become members can use MICS after their name. The second thing we do is offer Professional Development (education courses for professionals). The job is very rewarding because we have such a wide range of professional development programmes, we can help individuals in a whole variety of ways, depending on what “We’re a professional body, which means that we work to maintain professional standards in the shipping industry.” their goals are. Obviously gaining membership is no small achievement, and because we’re international it’s recognised everywhere you go around the world; important when you’re talking about shipping – the world’s global industry. Our oneday and short courses are geared to support people who are very new to the industry, while our seminars are designed to keep our members totally up to date. These are also open to the public free of charge – because we believe that money shouldn’t be an obstacle to professionalism.” Tall Ship Captain Captain BARBARA CAMPBELL, Tenacious “I have been Captain of a Tall Ship for the last 10 years and currently I am Captain of the square rigged sailing ship Tenacious. Tenacious and Lord Nelson are run and owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST). Almost anyone can sail on one of their ships and they are purpose-built to take a crew of mixed physical abilities. I began learning to sail as a child and as a reward for passing my 11 plus, my parents bought my sister and me an old clinker-built rowing boat, which we spent many happy hours doing up. I started professional life at sea as a Deck Cadet with P&O Steam Navigation Co in 1975. After a cadetship largely spent on cargo ships, I became a Third Officer and then a Second Officer onboard P&O cruise ships. After seven years on cruise ships during which time I obtained both my Mates and Masters certificates, I went to work for P&O Scottish Ferries running to Orkney and Shetland. After a variety of seafaring 18 | MARITIME positions, an opportunity arose to move to the Jubilee Sailing Trust. Most of the crew on our ships are untrained yet everyone works together. The crew keep watches and set sails, steer the ship, keep a lookout, scrub decks and much more. Some of the crew may be blind or deaf or have had a stroke. They could be a fit youngster or an 80 year-old but any of them can, and sometimes do, turn the wheel the wrong way. You learn to check that any order such as a helm order is carried out correctly. The sense of achievement our crew get when they realise that they have played a part in sailing the ship always fills me with pride.” “Almost anyone can sail on one of their ships and they are purpose-built to take a crew of mixed physical abilities.” EDUCATION & TRAINING Advertorial – Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool Maritime Academy The Liverpool Maritime Academy was established in 2007 and is the latest development in a long and distinguished history of maritime education and training on Merseyside, which can be traced back to 1892. In an innovative way, it brings together the expertise of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), the Lairdside Maritime Centre and the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine Centre. Each has its own area of speciality, but skills and expertise are shared when they can be used in this way to best effect. At the heart of its work is helping people achieve their goal of securing highly-paid employment in a dynamic and ever-changing industry. There are 50,000 merchant ships in the world and these create job opportunities for sea-based careers, as well as shore careers including ship management, consultancy, surveying, marine insurance, port operations, education, and research. A good example of what is on offer is the Nautical Science degree, which can be studied as a Foundation Degree over three years or a full honours degree over four years. These sponsored degrees provide funding for all fees, some financial support while at university, and guaranteed employment during the cadetship. The necessary academic knowledge is provided for a seagoing career, including the study of navigation, law, carriage of goods, human resources, environmental protection, seamanship and management. The culmination of the programmes is the degree, internationally recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for the award of an Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate of Competency. Roy-Paul Anderson, one of the students currently on the degree, is a cadet with Holland-America Line. “I was looking for jobs online and saw the course advertised and thought I’d give it a go. I applied directly and was accepted, subject to finding an industrial sponsor. I’ve enjoyed everything about the course so far, the great thing being that it’s so varied. My first sea phase began in April, eight months into the course. I was working as a Trainee Deck Officer, assisting an Officer of the Watch. It was literally hands-on, doing the job that I’ll do immediately after finishing the course.” A strength of LJMU as a whole is its commitment to the broadly-based skills which will be of benefit to the new graduate in the workplace. Research into the jobs market by the Vice Chancellors’ Office with employers resulted in a package of “graduate skills” practised and assessed by all LJMU graduates. These are the basics of the WoW™ initiative allowing all LJMU students to have the opportunity to develop high-level ‘world of work’ (WoW) skills in addition to their academic development. These high-level WoW skills cover such areas as leadership, professional and business ethics, finance, entrepreneurship and negotiation, skills which make LJMU graduates ‘most sought after’ when they set out to develop their careers. All undergraduate degrees at the University now include graduate skills development and work-related learning. Programmes offered within the Liverpool Maritime Academy framework are no exception. Students are able to move into the world of maritime business, finance and law through the BSc (Hons) Maritime Business and Management programme or the more technical side through the BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Marine Engineering programmes. Head of Maritime and Logistics Programmes, Dr Steve Bonsall commented; “Students within the Liverpool Maritime Academy have a unique opportunity to experience academic teaching, research and world-of-work skills at the highest level in a rapidly developing city where Logistics, Maritime and Marine are at the heart of that development”. The academy is home to two specialist centres. One, the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine Centre is concerned with in-depth research into aspects of the logistics, maritime and marine industries, particularly but not exclusively in the crucially important area of risk assessment. The second is the Lairdside Maritime Centre, which is home to the UK’s only 360° Full Mission Bridge Simulator. The centre undertakes bespoke training for the maritime industry, as well as the ongoing training of ships’ pilots and officers undergoing continuing professional training. Feasibility studies into a variety of maritime developments have been undertaken including in the Mersey the Twelve Quays berths, the new Floating Landing Stage and the proposed Post-Panamax Container Terminal Mersey river development. All this research feeds down into the academic programmes offered by the academy. The various strands of the Liverpool Maritime Academy are successful enterprises in their own right and are brought together at the heart of one of the most exciting and student-centred cities in the UK, making it an attractive choice for students looking to enter this industry sector. MARITIME | 19 Opportunities Maritime leisure Competitive sailing, powerboating, surfing, diving and boat buillding are just some of the examples of the activities in maritime leisure. Do any of these appeal to you? • management of sailing and surfing schools • equipment design, manufacture and retailing • sports coaching • boat design and building • public marine safety As you can see, not only are there careers linked to sailing and diving but there’s all of the related equipment and services that support them – such as engines, electronics, clothing, marinas and water sports centres. Some examples of the career opportunities available: • sail and/or power cruising instructor • yachtmaster instructor • yachtmaster examiner • dinghy instructor • windsurf instructor • skippers, mates, hostesses, engineers – for the large commercial yachts, super yachts and flotilla yachts • watersports manager or assistant • delivery skippers • delivery crew • safety boat crew • work boat crew & pilot launches • MCA inland shipping operators • MCA coxswain i.e. port authority & river users 20 | MARITIME MARITIME LEISURE Maritime leisure T he leisure marine industry is very diverse and there is a huge range of opportunities available. The industry covers a wide variety of products and services including: • superyachts • large luxury powerboats • motor cruisers, sports boats and RIB’s • sailing boats • narrow boats • personal watercraft • sailing dinghies • engines • electronics • equipment design • clothing • marinas • diving • boat building • surfing • watersports centres… and more! Whilst most of the industry is located in coastal areas, there’s also a thriving waterways industry based around the country’s extensive network of canals, rivers and lakes. Industry ‘hot spots’ include the South East, the South West, East Anglia, Wales, Western Scotland, the Midlands and the Thames Valley. Marine tourism has become one of the fastest growing areas within the tourism industry. With the increased use of marine environments for leisure and tourism comes the need for people working in management, planning, and sustainable development. There is no set career pattern in the marine leisure industry. People tend to specialise in particular areas and expand their experience, qualifications and ability as time goes on. Some people develop their careers in one company whilst others move from firm to firm. The boating industry values people with a wide range of skills and practical experience and those who are prepared to work hard and use their initiative. People-skills are especially important for some jobs. MARITIME | 21 Aquarist BEN JONES, The Deep Aquarium, Hull “I was first inspired to become an aquarist whilst away in Australia in 2003 where I began to whittle down the many careers out there by trying them out. I luckily landed a volunteer position in Sydney aquarium where I quickly discovered that this industry had the correct mix of science, practical skill application and fun for me! Prior to this discovery, I gained a BSc in Marine Biology at The University of Wales, Bangor, and some years ago had learned to dive, together giving me a good background knowledge and skill base with which to enter the industry. I came in as a trainee aquarist and was promptly sent on a course to reaffirm my rusty dive skills and bring me up to PADI Dive Master level. The rest of the training was on the job. Five years in and I now work as a senior aquarist in a 13 strong team within The Deep’s husbandry department, a team dedicated to ensuring the well-being of over 3,500 animals through exceptional daily care routines and pioneering veterinary techniques. The job is incredibly varied with duties ranging from academic research to daily diving and hand feeding our larger sharks and rays, with much time also dedicated to maintaining their life support systems. The job demands a highly practical approach and a love of problem solving is a must! We frequently go home having been soaked and after five years I am pretty sure that I am immune to most bad smells. Motivation for the job comes through being part of a good team with common goals, who, lets face it, you spend the majority of your life with. The aim of my role is to further the understanding and enjoyment of the world’s oceans through providing the public with a window into the marine world. We strive to educate our visitors through numerous exhibits and campaigns, and 22 | MARITIME take pride in working alongside many marine conservational bodies. The aquarium industry is international and each aquarium will be different. I wouldn’t say that there is a structured career path within the industry but rather that its employees gain motivation from a love of what they do and a desire to work toward the positive promotion of our seas and raising public awareness in key marine issues.” “The job is incredibly varied with duties ranging from academic research to daily diving and hand feeding our larger sharks and rays, with much time also dedicated to maintaining their life support systems.” MARITIME LEISURE Boat Builder OLIVER SHEPHARD, Apprentice, CJ Broom & Sons “I have always wanted some kind of work relating to boats and wood. I was lucky enough to be able to do my school work experience at Broom Boats and enjoyed every minute. Because I enjoyed the work, I decided boat building would be the trade for me, as I like working with my hands. When Brooms offered me an apprenticeship, I was delighted as there are not many qualified, experienced boat builders anymore. I studied Boat Building at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth colleges for two years, I worked hard including evenings at college to complete the work. Although I have now completed my apprenticeship, I am still learning new skills all the time. My training continues as I have just completed Woodworking Machine, Manual Handling, Hoist, Overhead Crane and Abrasive Wheel courses at Brooms. These skills allow me to use more equipment and make me more confident. I feel the most positive aspect of my career is the satisfaction of seeing the finished product and the pleasure the customers show when they take delivery of their boats. Knowing I have been part of the team that produced these superb boats is brilliant. In the future my career could advance to a charge hand and then supervisor. Wherever the future takes me, it would in some way involve boats.” A DEGREE IN YACHTING? New 3 year Foundation Degree programme unique to UKSA. Train for the top jobs in yachting. Includes 2 years paid employment and Foundation Degree, together with the highest level of RYA / MCA certification. What is it really like to study and work in yachting? Find out from superyacht professionals UKSA students and industry experts. Read / Download / Subscribe for free at: www.uksa.org/degree or call 0800 781 1080 Registered charity number: 299248 Patron: HRH The Princess Royal Sea Vision UK is a national campaign with four main objectives: ■ to raise the public profile of the sea and maritime activities; ■ to target awareness among the young, the seed corn of our maritime future; ■ to provide strategy, direction and co- ordination for education and careers activity across the maritime sector, among partner organisations and throughout the regions and countries of the UK; and ■ to promote co-operation between all relevant interests in pursuit of these objectives. MARITIME | 23 “The superyacht industry is expanding at a rapid pace, which in turn provides more opportunities for people to work on yachts.” Luxury Yachts Crew Manager LUCY MEDD, Burgess “Whilst working in computer programming, I first encountered the need for, and my desire to work in, human resources. Initially I studied and passed the PGDip HRM at Southbank University, London and obtained graduate CIPD status. Five years later (after I had forgotten the pain of studying for the PGDip) I completed an MSc HRM, again at Southbank University, and I also obtained Chartered Fellow CIPD status. I went on to work for Cosco UK Ltd (Chinese Ocean Shipping Company) as the HR Manager and subsequently Deputy General Manager General Services, which gave me an excellent grounding in the maritime sector. I have been with Burgess for two and a half years Managing Director CLIVE JOHNSON, Tacktick Ltd “I co-founded and run a business manufacturing wireless electronics for the leisure marine market. There was a gap in the market for solar powered electronics on dinghies – my brother and I were both keen dinghy sailors and we couldn’t understand why dinghies still used very old-fashioned glass ball compasses and no one had designed a solar powered digital compass – so we did it ourselves and started Tacktick in 1996. I trained to be an Aeronautical Engineer at Farnborough Aerospace College – since then I have also done part of an MBA through the Open University. My brother who co-owns the company is also an engineer – he did his degree at Cambridge University and then went on to 24 | MARITIME and I work in the Operational Management Department but I interact closely with all departments in Burgess (new build, charter and brokerage). My primary function is to assist captains to manage the crews on Burgess yachts under operational management. This means verifying that crew members are suitably qualified and hold all the relevant paperwork, dealing with any HR problems or issues that occur on a day-to-day basis. The superyacht industry is expanding at a rapid pace, which in turn provides more opportunities for people to work on yachts. Burgess has sponsored Ultimate Crew to encourage more people to consider yachting as a career. While there are ever-growing opportunities for employment aboard yachts, it is much harder work than people first imagine. This is ultimately a service industry with some tedious chores and extremely long hours. However this is compensated by the glamorous side of the job, which is travelling the world in style and meeting lots of people, some of whom will remain friends for life. For those who see yachting as a long-term career prospect, there are three different areas: deck leading to captain; engineering leading to chief engineer; and interior culminating in chief steward/ess.” do an MBA at Insead in France. I look after the sales and marketing for Tacktick, which is a world-leader in the design and manufacturer of solar powered wireless electronics for boats. My job entails managing the team, managing the distributors, all the marketing for the company – which includes brochures, adverts, website, pr, mail shots, customer mailings, exhibitions, international boat shows and events and large regattas. The most rewarding parts of the job is winning awards, such as the Queens Award for Innovation in 2007 and being presented with the award by the Princess Royal at the Southampton Boat Show. Also knowing that all the Olympic winners sail with our instruments and think they are great. This sector is a very broad industry – very friendly – and good for anyone from engineers to designers to marketing specialists to sailing enthusiasts.” MARITIME LEISURE Surf Coach WILLIAM GILES, The British Surfing Association “I was first inspired to become a surf coach as I used to work as a snowboard instructor in the USA and then my family moved down to the coast in Devon and I started to surf for recreation. So it was a natural step once I got more into the sport, to start teaching it with my history of coaching in the winter-time. I had always loved the sea and been a keen competitive swimmer since I was a child. It was all a natural step really. I studied Oceanography at university, not to teach surfing as I didn’t surf back then, just body-boarded sporadically. I got that degree, also holding my AASI level 3 Snowboard Instructor award, BSA level 4 Surf Coach award, Trainer Assessor for the BSA, and also RLSS Beach Lifeguard award. I have also received further training on child protection and teaching people with disabilities, holding an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check as well. My job covers management, coaching, staff training, and marketing and involves running a profitable business, in line with the BSA directives, providing the highest level of safety and quality of surf lessons to individuals who come to us for coaching from all levels, beginner to elite competitor and instructor. I oversee all the staff members, and also involve myself in day-to-day coaching when there is time, especially with the promotional events and media coverage, but also adaptive lessons and community groups. It is a very dynamic job, where working with people is the key to a successful business. I can share my passion for board sports with everyone else who decides to try this fantastic sport. It is highly rewarding and environmentally/ socially aware, promoting a healthy lifestyle. If you make it after one season there is plenty of work to be had here, (as well as overseas) if you have good references. It can open up many other doors into education and sports coaching, sales/marketing opportunities within the surfing industry or even coastal management. We are at the water’s edge on a daily basis, more frequently than most lifeguards, interacting with water, sand and people, managing our resources all the time.” “It is a very dynamic job, where working with people is the key to a successful business. I can share my passion for boardsports with everyone else who decides to try this fantastic sport.” MARITIME | 25 Maritime science, engineering & technology (SET) H ow about working on board a research ship? Research ships have onboard facilities for real-time data collection and analysis, not to mention access to information supplied by remote sensing equipment, including underwater vehicles and satellites. Today, advances in hydrographic surveying techniques have enabled highly accurate 3D mapping of the seabed – essential to support projects valued at many millions of pounds. Marine science also examines tidal and coastal zones and their impact on local communities. Careers opportunities are available for marine scientists and engineers within port, and harbour authorities, marine civil engineering companies, ocean equipment manufacturers and other public services. Opportunities also arise within universities, research councils, international organisations and environmental pressure groups. Marine technology includes everything related to the design, operation and control systems of ocean structures and marine vehicles, including marine and electronic engineering and naval architecture. Naval architects design and oversee the construction and repair of marine craft and floating structures such as passenger and cargo ships, high-speed catamarans, yachts and offshore platforms. Marine and electronic engineers design sensitive instruments for measuring ocean currents and incorporate them into marine structures that can withstand ocean currents, waves, tides and severe storms. IT expertise is also particularly important with the development of automatic electronic control systems and robotics across maritime industries. 26 | MARITIME SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY A future in marine science, engineering and technology Marine science, engineering and technology is about future sustainable use of the seas. It offers challenging, diverse careers with excellent employment prospects. In the UK over 90% of all international trade is carried in nearly one hundred thousand ocean-going vessels, from massive bulk cargo ships to the smallest sea-canal barge. Along with energy, defence and recreation the UK marine industry is worth over 50 billion pounds annually and employs some 400 000 people. Skilled people are needed to operate ships or work offshore, but many more are required in shore based jobs that support these operations. Design of ships, boats and other offshore structures is one key area of activity. Every year entirely new ships appear and there is continuous development to improve performance and economy. There are millions of fishing vessels and workboats of all types. The current boom in cruising has led to a new generation of luxury passenger vessels, and water sports of all types are amongst the most popular leisure activities in Britain. More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and the deep ocean has been described as the ‘last true frontier’. The marine environment presents challenging problems to animals that live in the sea, to ships, and boats, which sail on or under the sea and to fixed structures built in the sea. Biologists and engineers study the seas so that they can use this international resource in a responsible and environmentally sustainable way. A modern ferry has been described as a luxury hotel, built on a multi-storey car park, on top of a power station, moving at 40 kilometres per hour through a gale. To design such a 20,000 tonne structure, and then construct it in less than one year requires a bewildering range of technology and skills. All of these types are designed in the UK. Every use of the sea, needs the range of skills available in marine technology and the ability to integrate the work of other engineering disciplines is essential. Qualified marine engineers create propulsion and control systems for ships, oil platforms, underwater and offshore School of Marine Science and Technology The school is the largest in the UK, has the widest range of degree programmes and an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Accredited Undergraduate degrees MEng / B Eng / BSc Marine Engineering Marine Biology Naval Architecture Offshore Engineering Small Craft Technology Marine Environmental Engineering Full or part-time postgraduate study, taught or by research can lead to MSc, MPhil, MRes or PhD For more information: Marine Science J.E.Delany@ncl.ac.uk, +44(0)191 222 3053 Marine Technology A.J.Murphy@ncl.ac.uk, +44(0)191 222 6718 vehicles. The latest computer methods for monitoring and control are used to ensure efficiency and to minimise environmental impacts. Other professions include naval architects who design and produce ships and other marine vehicles. Offshore engineers design and produce fixed and floating offshore oil production installations. The marine environment is a delicate balance and marine scientists specialise in the study of the creatures and plant life in the sea. Marine biology is a subject that has interactions with many other scientific disciplines. Graduates from accredited programmes of study in marine science or technology can become professionally qualified as Chartered Scientists (CSci) or Chartered Engineers (CEng), after a course of study approved by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) or through the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). By Professor George Bruce, University of Newcastle The Society is an international learned Society covering all aspects of engineering, science and technology that is relevant to the underwater world, from the heavy engineering of the oil & gas sector to marine archaeology and biology. Our members are in over 30 countries world-wide, with active branches in Houston, Texas, Rio de Janeiro and Perth. We run meetings, training courses and other means of learning and networking in addition to publishing a learned Journal Underwater Technology, books and other publications. We provide a comprehensive guide to careers in all sectors of this diverse and fascinating world, available on our website or at the address below, as well as an annual Christmas Lecture for schools in collaboration with the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. PLEASE CONTACT US AT The Society for Underwater Technology, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ T 020 7382 2601 F 020 7382 2684 W sut.org MARITIME | 27 Mechanical Engineer BARBARA MCINTYRE, BVT “I joined BVT in September 2005 as a graduate mechanical engineer. My first placement was as a fluid systems engineer, it lasted six months and was in the Type 45 destroyer auxiliary systems design team. Since then I have spent 10 months working in the design team for the new aircraft carriers, two months in test and commissioning and the remainder of my time in business development. The placements I have chosen have allowed me to experience the different stages in the design of a new ship and the impact that early decisions can have. One of the most enjoyable parts of working in engineering is visiting ships that are “The most enjoyable parts of working in engineering is visiting ships that are in use and talking to the people who live and work on them.” in use and talking to the people who live and work on them. There are plenty of opportunities for graduates in all disciplines to spend time on the ships during sea trials and to visit ships which are in use. The highlight for me has been visiting one of the current aircraft carriers, the HMS Ark Royal, during my placement in the design team for the new aircraft carrier. “Throughout my time on the GDF I have been supported in my development as an engineer, I’m working towards gaining Chartered status with the IMechE and have been able to choose placements and development opportunities which will contribute to this. In addition to formal training I have been able to get involved in some of the charity events sponsored by the company; these have ranged from representing the company at a Navy event to helping school children build and race paper boats.” Advertorial – Global Careers In Marine Contracting Looking for a career that combines travel, technology, good pay, safe working conditions, responsibility, and real opportunities to reach your full potential and gain promotion to decision making level? You’ve found it in the marine contracting industry. Working in an exciting, fast-paced, forwardlooking industry, your skills in engineering, science, IT or mathematics will find free rein. You could help to construct the next generation of offshore installations for the international oil and gas industry; be part of a team operating technically advanced offshore construction, installation and support vessels or remotely operated vehicles; chart the sea and oceans; lay telecommunications cables; or play a vital role as a life support technician to an offshore diving team. There’s a great range of roles, with a constant demand for new entrants. What’s more, employers offer some of the best training and development packages around and have a cutting-edge approach to safety and environmental protection. The International Marine Contractors Association represents over 500 companies in 50+ countries, their website at www.imca-int.com/careers has a wealth of information on the range of careers; what each entails; entry requirements/qualifications; real-life stories, case histories and feature articles; videos and virtuals; advice on ‘next steps’ and much, much more. 28 | MARITIME SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY We have the technology Looking to launch a new career? We’re looking for enthusiastic men and women with a sense of adventure to embark on exciting careers as Engineering Officers and Deck Officers. Degree/Training Sponsorship • all course fees paid • generous subsistence allowance • mentoring and support by a dedicated team • worldwide travel opportunities Once Qualified • starting salary over £24K • excellent benefits and rewards • on-going training & career development For further information contact: BP Maritime Services (Isle of Man) Limited on 01624 630550 or E-mail: shipcareers@bp.com quoting ref: EOT/01/08 © 2008 BP p.l.c beyond petroleum ® bp.com Oil & Gas Engineer CHRISTINE BENFIELD, Brown and Root Engineering Services “I first became interested in the marine environment when I failed to get grades in A-level suitable for medicine. As a woman applying for jobs, I only got three interviews We require enthusiastic graduate engineers and scientists with the right credentials to work in the business of safeguarding the UK and its interests. In the Ministry of Defence there is a huge variety of work to suit a number of engineering and science disciplines. We are responsible for some of the largest and most technically advanced projects in the UK. With the MoD you’ll be confident that you have the support of an organisation that has trained, developed and launched a huge number of graduates into successful careers in engineering and science over many years. We are: The Ministry of Defence, Defence Engineering and Science Group. Organisation description: Central Government. The DESG is the community of thousands of Engineers and Scientists within the Ministry of Defence. DESG offers you many benefits including: 1. Probably the very best graduate development scheme for engineers and scientists available in the UK – fully accredited by IMechE, IET, ICE, RINA, IoP and RAes. 2. Huge investment in you. Over and above your salary, the investment in support of your personal professional development will be around £20,000 per year! 3. An accelerated path to Chartered status in your Engineering or Science profession. Salary: Competitive. Work Locations: MoD sites across the UK and sometimes abroad. Degree Disciplines Required: A multitude of engineering disciplines are required. Also, science disciplines with an emphasis on Physics. Please see www.desg.mod.uk (and click Graduate Opportunities/Graduate Scheme/ Graduate Fact Sheet for details of the huge range of Degree Disciplines required). Application procedure: On-line application via our website www.desg.mod.uk (Click How To Apply). Application Deadline: Visit our website www.desg.mod.uk (and Click How To Apply/ Application Dates). Undergraduate Sponsorship: We also offer Undergraduate Sponsorship (please see our website and click ‘Student Opportunities’ for details). The MoD is an Equal Opportunities Employer. from over 40 job applications – even though I got a first class honours degree, BEng (Hons) – the best of these was within Brown and Root which specialises in offshore engineering. They were positively recruiting women to balance the workplace. The greatest job satisfaction comes from continuity of work from conception of ideas, through making drawings, documents, calculations and so on, to finally building, installing and using the system. This is a great combination of design office, site work and offshore work. Working in small teams is especially rewarding. A personal landmark was when, earlier in my career I achieved chartered status in the minimum time. I now measure my achievement in terms of the success of the projects to which I’m assigned. To be involved in marine engineering, science and technology, I think you need a challenging but logical mind, with an interest in the field. Dealing with clients and team management requires interpersonal skills including diplomacy and patience. Engineering demands a systematic approach but creativity and innovation are rewarded. The rewards include: • helping to make projects happen which is satisfying, especially when you see them through from the drawing board to production • successful projects enhance your career development • the oil and gas industry has good financial rewards. I don’t believe in constraining myself by setting expectations. If you believe anything is possible you are half way there.” MARITIME | 29 Naval Architect DAVID M CANNELL, David M Cannell & Associates “After long and serious consideration on what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to become a naval architect. I first studied physics at London University attaining a BSc Honours Degree. Physics is a wonderful ‘background’ subject for any of the sciences. I have always been fascinated by the marine world and come from a naval family and thus I decided after the physics degree then to study naval architecture and attained Membership of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. As I was keen to specialise in yachts and ‘small craft’ I joined Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Yacht Department and became a trainee surveyor but also worked in the Plan Approval Department. I was given a number of special projects including development of rules for yachts and small craft but perhaps “small” is a misnomer as even in those days, we looked at structures and fit out for vessels of a 100m length. Work we specialise in now also involves small craft, generally vessels less than say 150m. The work does involve “super yachts” of all sizes and some very large yachts are now building. The work also involves naval architecture and survey for commercial vessels including patrol, coast guard and pilot boats. The projects we undertake are very diverse, ranging from design of sail boats to investigating stability problems with very large motor yachts. It also involves surveying vessels of up to approximately 150m, investigating and advising on technical problems and overseeing new vessels during build. At this office we have designed vessels ranging from a bathysphere high pressure submersible to a sail training vessel. Personally, I get involved these days more in expert witness work for cases largely involving disputes related to yachts, both power and sail and also occasionally arbitration work. The most positive aspect of my career has been the great diversity of work and interesting problems encountered, coupled with the ability to meet so many people worldwide. The marine world, particularly with regard to small craft, is in certain ways a niche field and it is possible to come across the same people in different parts of the world over a number of years. Career prospects in the marine industry are very diverse at all levels. Naval architects’ work can involve anything from designing a small sail boat to working on the design of an oil rig or very large container ship. There are excellent training facilities in this country and British naval architects will be found worldwide. The Royal Institution of Naval Architects based in London but with branches worldwide will support and advise ‘would be’ naval architects entering the industry.” Advertorial – IMAREST The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology. The information network and knowledge hub for all Marine Professionals and those looking for a challenging career with the sea. With over 15000 members world wide we can give access to a sea of knowledge. Please contact us at IMarEST HQ 80 Coleman Street London EC2R 5BJ T: +44 (0) 20 7383.2600 E: Info@imarest.org W: www.imarest.org 30 | MARITIME The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) was formed in the London Docks by Marine Engineers in 1889. Since that day it has been heavily involved supporting Marine Engineers, and more latterly Marine Scientists and Technologists, as well with information and knowledge. IMarEST has also played a big role in setting and administering standards for the world’s marine professionals through its various registers of assessed members. With over 50% of its 15,000 members based in the UK IMarEST is a strong believer in Sea Vision UK’s aims and objectives and looks to promote marine careers and industry in the UK. To this end it provides an employment service for its members, careers advice to schools, universities and students and a special networking organisation known as ‘Marine Partners’ for industry. In addition to running an internationally recognised professional recognition framework the IMarEST also supplies many other benefits for its members and the public at large. It is a leading publisher of marine technical magazines and text books and runs a range of conferences and seminars to keep the marine professional up dated. While at a local level it has 18 branches based around the UK running technical lectures, visits and social functions. These are all aimed at helping individuals stay up to date and appreciate the value of the sea. Details may of course be found on the Institute’s website: www.imarest.org IMarEST wishes Sea Vision UK and all its members the greatest success in raising our awareness of the sea and all it has to offer. SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY Trainee SCADA Technician TOM GREEDY, British Waterways “My current position of trainee SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) technician at British Waterways follows a four-and-a-half year mechanical and electrical engineering apprenticeship programme with the organisation. I was first inspired to join British Waterways as the position offered me the chance to work whilst attending college. It’s a really varied scheme, and there’s a combination of the manual, hands-on aspects of the job alongside an academic plan that allows you to study for recognised qualifications. Being out and about on the waterways was also important; there’s beautiful scenery and you meet a whole range of people. I found out about the apprenticeship scheme from a Connexions magazine, but then did some further research into the organisation – it was listed by The Times as one of the top 100 places to work, and it has a good reputation locally too. I started the scheme in 2003, aged 16, straight from school and now after five years I have completed my NVQ level 2 & 3 in operations and maintenance engineering, BTEC First Diploma in Operations and Maintenance Engineering, and a BTEC National Certificate. British Waterways is supporting me to undertake a foundation degree in electronics and control systems. I currently work in the SCADA team (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) within British Waterways. SCADA in British Waterways is used for monitoring a variety of equipment and circumstances found within the waterways. This ranges from monitoring flow rates, levels, lockages and pumping stations to the amount of people and boats that use the canal network. It’s important that we use water as effectively as possible; it’s a resource that we need to conserve, and part of my role is related to ensuring we get the most out of the water we have in our system. I work on-site a lot, managing contractors to ensure our monitoring equipment is maintained and installed to a high standard to ensure it can provide us with accurate and appropriate information. I also provide technical support to local waterways. British Waterways is a good place to work; the positive parts of the job include the variety. I’m supported in gaining more and better qualifications, and I think I have good future prospects.” Advertorial – Survival Craft Inspectorate Survival Craft Inspectorate is a leading authority on the manufacture, repair and maintenance of lifeboats and marine survival equipment. It is located on the Aberdeenshire coast in the village of Findon where it has extensive facilities for the development and manufacture of lifeboat technology. The company also has facilities in Houston, Stavanger and Singapore and its engineers travel throughout the world to undertake the maintenance and installation of lifeboats on commercial ships and offshore oil installations. Survival Craft also led the industry with the introduction of a new lifeboat release hook mechanism. Safelaunch was developed to improve the safety of seafarers who had been vulnerable to accidents through the failure of existing release hooks. The company’s initiative subsequently pioneered a world-wide move to improve lifeboat maintenance, which should make a significant contribution to maritime safety. Survival Craft Inspectorate manufactures a comprehensive range of lifeboats, rescue craft and davits and specialises in creating solutions to difficult installation and engineering problems. The company provides this as a comprehensive service to shipyards and vessel operators, who are assured that all safety-critical equipment is professionally installed anywhere in the world. The company’s expertise in safety technology also enables it to provide a comprehensive contract maintenance service for the operators of ships and offshore facilities. The company will undertake to perform the routine maintenance of all safety equipment and reassure the client that this important aspect of its business is in good hands. MARITIME | 31 Marine environment & conservation S eventy per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans and seas. We are reliant on our oceans and seas for many things, although most importantly for food, exploitable energy sources (such as wind power, oil and gas) and tourism revenue. It is easy to see, therefore, how our health and the health of our planet depends in no small part on the condition of our oceans and seas. The world’s oceans contain some of the richest areas of biodiversity. Our seas are already showing the effects of climate change and we must ensure that marine ecosystems are sufficiently healthy to be resilient in the face of changing conditions. The UK has one of the world’s richest marine environments. As an island nation we are responsible for a sea area over three times larger than our land area. It includes shallow coastal waters and ocean depths of over 2,000 metres as far as 350 nautical miles (650 km) off the north-west of Scotland. We have about 20,000 km of coastline (roughly equivalent to half way round the world). Over 8,000 animal and plant species have been recorded in our seas and the number continues to grow as scientists discover more life in our oceans. We have a moral and ethical obligation to conserve the marine environment for future generations. Marine Biologist HEIDI PARDOE, Marine Research Institute “I graduated from the School of Ocean and Earth Science with a first-class BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography in 2005. At the end of the second year there was an opportunity to spend three months at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, Vancouver Island, and I was fortunate to be one of the students who went to Canada. It was an unforgettable experience and I was able see first-hand the application of what we had been taught at the NOC. Participation in a fisheries research survey confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in fisheries science. So I was extremely pleased when I was offered a NERCfunded position on the MRes Marine and Fisheries 32 | MARITIME Marine renewable energy Traditional sources of energy such as oil, gas and coal are not renewable: they will eventually run out. They also cause pollution by releasing huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. The wind and waves are renewable sources of energy and don’t cause pollution. The energy from waves alone could supply all of mankind’s electricity needs many times over. The government aims to have 20% of all our energy coming from renewable sources by 2020 and as a nation we are ideally placed to take advantage of the sea as a resource. There are many careers and jobs working in the marine energy, environment and conservation sector; read on to see some of the types of jobs available... Science at the University of Aberdeen on completion of my degree. However, I never began this course as I was later offered a PhD position at the Marine Research Institute and University of Iceland, Reykjavik. Part of the European Research Training Network, FishACE, with Marie-Curie funding, my four-year PhD focuses on fisheries-induced adaptive changes in Icelandic cod and offers fantastic opportunities within Iceland and across Europe to advance my theoretical and practical training in evolutionary biology and fisheries science and gain invaluable contacts within the field. BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography was a really interesting and challenging degree, which provided teaching in both a broad range of subjects and more specialised areas; all necessary for my future career. The advice and support provided by many of the lecturers at the NOC definitely helped me to decide which route I wanted to follow on completion of my degree and how to go about doing this. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the NOC and have no doubt that the excellent theoretical and practical training we gained whilst studying within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and NOC have enabled me to successfully achieve this competitive PhD position.” MARINE ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION Wave Power Developer PAUL CATTERALL, Npower Renewables Ltd “The sea has always been a subject of great interest for me from an early age. We’re an island nation with a wealth of natural resource, and as a keen recreational yachtsman, I frequently experience the awesome natural power of the waves and strong tidal streams. I believe that this energy could be harnessed to generate clean renewable power, helping the UK to build a sustainable supply of renewable electricity for the future. I also wanted a job where there is the opportunity to work outdoors some of the time, rather than permanently being in an office. I graduated in 2001 from the University of Southampton with a BSc Honours Degree in Geography, then worked for a year to finance a Masters Degree in Management from the University of Bath in 2002. I joined a RWE Graduate Development Scheme in September 2003, and have since worked in various areas of the company’s UK businesses. I now work as a marine developer in the marine development field of npower renewables. Our remit is to seek out opportunities to develop innovative marine energy schemes – essentially novel ways of extracting natural energy from the sea in the form of wave power, tidal streams and the potential energy provided by tidal ranges. My job entails developing schemes from the initial seed of an idea through to securing consent to build a marine renewable project from the relevant authorities. Because the marine renewable industry is still in early stages of development, this role involves working with technology companies to develop plans to deploy their machines into a potential site where there are sufficient natural energy resources to make a commercially viable project. I also spend a lot of time keeping a watch over the development of marine technologies, and over the politics and policies which govern our industry and will help to make our projects a reality. It’s really positive to feel that you’re involved in an industry near the beginning, and that there is the potential to develop a career in renewables that will make a difference to the way we generate electricity for our nation’s needs. Because of the global resources for wave and tidal power, there is also the sense that you’re working in an industry that could change the way the world looks at energy generation, and that you could have played your part in protecting the environment from the negative effects of CO2 emissions. It’s also really good to work with lots of like-minded people who are enthusiastic about making change happen, regardless of how hard it might be to achieve. There’s a real need for people who have the enthusiasm, adaptability, interest, knowledge and capacity to learn to work in the renewables industry at the moment. Particularly in demand are engineers, although the industry also needs people with skills in project management, environmental management and sustainable development, and the ability to make change happen. What we’re working on now is a new industry, and a major change in the way we generate our electricity needs, for our and future generations – so that has to be worth the gamble.” “Because of the global resources for wave and tidal power, there is also the sense that you’re working in an industry that could change the way the world looks at energy generation.” MARITIME | 33 Marine Renewable Technician ROY TEMPLE, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd “The job opportunity arose for this position and having lived in Orkney all my life and the job ideally suiting my line of work, I applied for the post. My family have always been connected with the maritime industry and I have always had a keen interest in it myself. I am also a volunteer with the RNLI on the Stromness Lifeboat crew. The added bonus was that the job was for a company that really would put Orkney on the map and was going to be interesting and beneficial to the future of the planet, and this also drew me to it. I studied for two years at Jewel & Esk Valley College in Edinburgh gaining an HND in Electrical Engineering. I put a lot of this knowledge into my first real job when I worked for “The added bonus was that the job was for a company that really would put Orkney on the map and was going to be interesting and beneficial to the future of the planet, and this also drew me to it.” Marine Scientist Conservation Dr SILVANA BIRCHENOUGH, CEFAS “I work on R&D projects to develop applied science. Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science) provides a wide variety of opportunities to carry out highquality science; there is a good mixture of interdisciplinary teams that allows you to work with colleagues of different backgrounds, expertise and ‘state of the art-technology’. Cefas is an internationally renowned aquatic scientific research and consultancy centre. It is a prime source of high quality science used to conserve and enhance the aquatic environment, promote sustainable management of its natural resources, and protect the public from aquatic contaminants. Part of my duties are to provide authoritative scientific advice to Defra, other government departments, industry and its consultants on matters relating to human impacts on the marine environment, on activites such as dredged material disposal, constructions (including off-shore windfarms) and aggregate extraction areas. I have always been very impressed by Cefas’s familyfriendly policies, opportunities for professional development 34 | MARITIME a local electrical contractor for four years after finishing my HND. I am always doing new training and courses in this job, having done courses in Fibre Optic testing, subsea cable training, AutoCAD drawing, IFIX Fundamentals for SCADA systems and loads more to come as the company expands. I am based in the marine renewables sector. EMEC is the first (and currently only) wave and tidal test facility in the world. I am responsible for ensuring the availability and proper functioning of all facilities and equipment associated with testing. I also maintain IMS records for all asset-related and maintenance activity. The fact that the marine renewables industry is a new and up and coming one always provides challenges. Because deploying wave and tidal devices is a new skill, there are always problems to work around with developers, from deployment techniques to cable handling to electrical connections and so on. With the EU and UK Government aim of having 20% of energy requirements being generated from renewables by 2020, I see a good future in the marine renewables industry. Indeed, here in Scotland, the Scottish Government has the aim of making sure that 50% of Scottish demand for electricity should be met from renewable sources by 2020, with a milestone of 31% by 2011. I have a good outlook for my future at the moment. It’s here in Scotland, and more importantly for me, in my home island!” and multicultural environment, as well as colleagues who really care about you – it’s not hard to see why I continue working for Cefas. My day can be quite varied but usually starts around 8.30-9.30am when I read my emails, deal with other requests, conduct data analysis and write reports or articles. Additionally, I do advisory work and, depending on the tasks for the day, I attend meetings. I’m enjoying an interesting career here, and for me a highlight has been winning a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, which has enabled me to visit worldwide centres of excellence to develop links related to the Sediment Profile Camera (SPI) to develop applied science. If someone said they were thinking of joining Cefas, I’d certainly encourage them to do so. Professionally I would advise them to identify an area of interest and work hard to put their own mark on it in order to reach a successful development of the area.” MARINE ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION Conservation Centre Assistant LAUREN DAVIS, Devon Wildlife Trust “I studied Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology at Plymouth University and throughout my study, learnt to dive. After completing a Marine Biology degree, I carried out some voluntary work in Crete working towards sea turtle conservation. Since academic study, I have carried out various voluntary positions such as working with Finding Sanctuary, a project to develop a network of marine protected areas within the South West and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, helping to manage a basking shark project. I have also worked as a Marine Education ranger on a trainee scheme which allowed me to gain an NVQ in Environmental Conservation and undertake training courses such as RYA level 2 Powerboat, Snorkelling instructor course and MapInfo professional (GIS) which I now use on a daily basis. My role within DBRC is to provide information to clients on species and habitats within the terrestrial and marine environment. A large part of my role is receiving and managing data and using it to provide reports which will be used by decision makers in conservation. I also co-ordinate Seaquest South West for Devon. This is a project run jointly by Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, which aims to gather information from sea watchers on sightings and strandings of whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, jellyfish and turtles in the South West. I will take these records over the phone and email, validate the information and then record them into our database which, will then be used for analysis for a newsletter which comes out twice a year. The most rewarding part of my job is most definitely being in the position to hear about exciting marine sightings throughout Devon, and knowing that the information I will provide to clients will be used to make important decisions about the marine environment that I feel so passionately about. Career and job prospects in the marine conservation industry really all depend on which route you would like to take and how far away you are willing to go. However, opportunities are ever expanding in this sector!” Fisheries Conservation Officer SAM WILDING, Marine Conservation Society (MCS) “I have always been interested in the marine environment, which is probably down to my parents. We have always gone on holiday in the UK and I can remember rock pooling in Cornwall with my dad from the age of about four. As I grew older I started surfing and fishing, both leading to a greater enjoyment and appreciation for the sea. I have a BSc honours degree in Marine Biology, and an MSc in Shellfish Biology, Fisheries and Culture. I work in the field of fisheries, although the organisation I work for covers all aspects of marine conservation and is the only UK charity dedicated to the protection of the marine environment. Overfishing is a major threat to the marine environment; however there is a growing demand for seafood from a growing global population. My job, along with the other members of the fisheries team, is to work with all sectors of the seafood industry to develop a sustainable fishing industry that will lead to a healthy marine environment, whilst ensuring livelihoods for fishermen and food for a growing population. The primary focus of my job is to provide advice to UK consumers on the sustainability of seafood that is available to them. The main outputs from this are our website: www.fishonline.org and our Pocket Good Fish Guide. Many of the major retailers look to us for advice on the sustainability of seafood that they sell, as it becomes increasingly important to consumers. I have a lot of contact with the media, including journalists and researchers, particularly for celebrity chefs. It is not as glamorous as you might think, but it’s certainly something you might not expect as a marine conservationist!” MARITIME | 35 Sea going A life on the ocean wave? As well as careers in the Merchant Navy or the Royal Navy to think about, there are other opportunities such as the towage industry and workboats operating in inland and coastal waters, as well as fishing which involves sailing in ocean, coastal and inland waters to catch not only fish but crustacea and molluscs too. The Merchant Navy is the collective term for the shipping industry and includes passenger ships such as ferries and cruise liners, container ships, tankers (oil, gas and chemical), bulk carriers and specialised vessels. You could be an officer or a member of the crew, work as an engineer or deck officer or be part of the hospitality and support services – all roles that work as a team to ensure the safe 36 | MARITIME operation of the ship and delivery of its cargo or passengers. An officer in the Royal Navy is trained as a specialist to perform key operational roles, with management responsibility for people and state-of-the-art equipment. Specialists in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines work together to carry out vital work in ships, submarines, aircraft, naval air stations and shore-based establishments. And with seafaring expertise you can also get many shore-based jobs should you decide to move on – for example, marine pilots, harbour masters, ship surveyors, ship management and government departments including the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Sea going experience often provides a firm footing into maritime business careers. As well as careers in the Merchant Navy or the Royal Navy to think about there are other opportunities such as fishing which involves sailing in ocean, coastal and inland waters to catch not only fish but crustacea and molluscs too. SEA GOING Advertorial – Merchant Navy Training Board Sea – an exciting career The Merchant Navy Training Board is the national body representing the UK Shipping Industry in the development, promotion and implementation of professional seafarer training. The Board provides an authoritative centre of expertise and information on careers, qualifications, training opportunities, training provision and skill needs and issues in the industry. Shipping is a major world industry and over 90% of world trade is carried by sea. Within a global marketplace the British shipping industry competes successfully in commercial terms, with a diverse fleet and companies that are world-leaders in all categories of shipping. The industry is well managed, technologically advanced and committed to respecting the environment. It relies on a core of highly competent British seafarers drawn from all parts of the UK and educated and trained at one of the small number of specialist and worldrenowned maritime colleges and universities in the UK. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the size of the British fleet and also the recruitment numbers of new trainee seafarers. Opportunities exist within the industry for entrants at all levels, from those looking for qualifications at degree level to those without formal qualifications. The main entry route is the Foundation Degree / Scottish Professional Diploma course for officer trainees. This course, with its combination of degree-level academic study as well as plenty of practical training at sea, has proved popular with those young people who want a degree with a difference. It is available for Navigating (Deck) Officers, Engineer Officers and (as from 2009) Electro-Technical Officers. Courses are all fully sponsored and therefore enable officer trainees to acquire not only their academic, but also their professional seafarer qualifications, without the encumbrance of student debt. For more information go to: www.careersatsea.org or call: 0800 085 0973. MARITIME | 37 “As an island nation, and with our long and respected maritime history, we have a central role to play in the world’s maritime activity.” Deck Officer Trainees CAMERON SCOTT, BP Shipping “I grew up with the Merchant Navy in the family – my father is a Captain. At first I wanted to work in construction but one morning I woke up and decided to go to sea. So I applied and here I am. My training course lasts nearly three years including three phases at sea, each four months long. So far I’m enjoying the interaction with ships’ officers and crew – you meet many different people from different cultures and learn a lot about their lifestyles. Some of the conversations one can have at sea are diverse and unusual which makes it interesting. “I had a wonderful experience on my second trip – my first shore leave was Sydney and I spent an afternoon climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge. On board, music and my laptop help me relax and I have my St. Andrews Cross flag to make me feel at home. Being away for such a long time isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – you need to be sure you can handle that. The feeling you get when you arrive back home after four months away 38 | MARITIME The British Shipping Industry – Merchant Navy British shipping is an industry of the future – well managed, technologically advanced and committed to respecting the environment. Ships carry 77 per cent of world trade and seaborne trade is forecast to almost double over the next 15 years. The shipping industry depends upon a core of highly competent and professional British seafarers who are respected worldwide for their high standards, the quality of their training, their ability and their judgment. Opportunities exist NOW for capable and enthusiastic young people to train to manage and operate modern and technically sophisticated ships. The prospects for development of a worthwhile and rewarding career are excellent. Your training will be carried out at one of the UK nautical colleges or university, combined with practical experience aboard ships at sea. You will be sponsored throughout your training for work in deck (navigation), engineering or electro-technical roles as an officer or as a rating (a skilled seafarer holding a post with a lower level of responsibility). is like nothing on this earth. My feeling is that anyone considering a career at sea should ask advice from people at sea, especially cadets. This life is not all about travel.” JAMIE LONGDEN, BP Shipping “I first started thinking about going to sea six months before starting training. I’d been accepted at university to study human genetics but I wasn’t sure it was right for me. Then a family friend suggested this career. I researched it and decided I wanted to try it. Learning new things is the best part of the job. And seeing places that my friends wish they could go to. I spent a lot of time in Singapore on my first trip and found the people friendly and the weather good. Also, nothing bad can be said about the amount of money you can save on board! There are downsides – having to live and work with the same people for a long time, for example, and not having new people to interact with. It can be hard work and the hours are long. You need to be committed to your choice and confident you can handle being away from family/friends.” SEA GOING Guest Services Manager JULIE SHERRINGTON, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines “I am not really sure why I came to sea! I just seemed to drift into it. I started as a hairdresser onboard and moved over to Guest Relations after two years. I have worked my way up to Guest Services Manager, and really love the job. I personally did not study or have any specific qualifications other than a good all round, friendly personality. I think personality and the ability to deliver and want to give world class service is far more important that qualifications. You must be a people person and want to please guests in order to succeed in this position. Ask yourself the question ‘do I actually like people?’, if the answer is NO, then choose a new career! I work in the hotel side, the equivalent of a front desk in a hotel. My job entails dealing with escalated guest concerns, emergencies, action with guests and so on. I also manage a team of 35 staff including, international ambassador, group coordinator, print shop, concierge, front desk, telecomms. The best part about the job is that no two days are ever the same. The travelling, meeting people crew and guests from all over the world is amazing It could lead to hotel management in the outside world, executive customer service manager and becoming a travel consultant. With the travel and people knowledge it opens up a huge window of opportunity.” “The best part about the job is that no two days are ever the same. The travelling, meeting people crew and guests from all over the world is amazing.” Ad 86mm x 125mm:Layout 1 CONWAY MN TRUST Leaving school in the next year or so? Going for A levels, Scottish Highers or the equivalent? Want to study for a degree as well as train as a professional mariner? The Conway MN Trust offers sponsored training to become a Deck or Engineer officer, including (if qualified) study towards a Maritime or Marine Engineering degree. Conway – a registered charity – dates back to 1859 and over the years many thousands of young people have been trained, educated and then qualified as Merchant Navy Officers. Since the 1990s the Conway MN Trust, has offered full sponsorship to young school leavers wishing to become Deck or Engineer Officers and we are now solely focussed on the Degree schemes. Conway works with a number of prominent UK shipping companies who provide the seagoing element of the industry approved training schemes. If you are leaving school in 2009 you can make provisional application now for September 2009 entry. 15/10/08 11:58 Page 1 Broaden your horizons The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, the UK’s largest maritime charity, works with professional seafarers and young people to offer a range of learning and development opportunities through distance learning. We understand the challenges of taking on education while at sea, and our dedicated College of the Sea offers distance learning and financial support to UK seafarers. If you’re thinking of broadening your educational horizons and want to know more about what’s on offer, visit www.mscos.ac.uk or email us at education@ms-sc.org for details of how we can take you further. The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, transforming the lives of those it serves. The Marine Society & Sea Cadets 202 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW Tel 020 7654 7000 | Email info@ms-sc.org | www.ms-sc.org Registered charity numbers: England & Wales 313013, Scotland SC037808 MARITIME | 39 Deck Officer Trainee THOMAS FEAKINS, Holland America Line “I first decided to work on a cruise ship as I enjoy travel and a job that challenges me; it has to be different everyday. Working on a cruise ship and studying at college has enabled me to fill these criteria. I am currently studying for my Officer Of the Watch (OOW) at Warsash Maritime College. This is a qualification that enables me to be a navigation officer onboard any size ship anywhere in the world. I also qualify with a Foundation Degree in Maritime Operations Management. Whilst at sea I am part of the Navigation Department, ensuring the safe navigation of a cruise ship and up to 2,200 passengers. On board I carry out and assist in a number of jobs that enable me to have a wide knowledge and understanding of the roles of a deck officer once I qualify. Daily jobs include: assisting with the bridge watch officer, navigation, safety and lifesaving maintenance and also contact with the passengers hosting dinner tables and many more! Whilst at college I study aspects of navigation, cargo, shipboard management, stability and meterology. I enjoy travelling around the world on a cruise ship, with great gyms and facilities on board, meeting some very interesting people and working as part of a highly motivated team. As a qualified Officer I will be on a four Port Presenter ROSEMARY REDI, P&O Cruises “I am a Port Presenter currently onboard Arcadia and I work in the Shore Excursions department. My typical contract length is approximately three or four months at sea with four weeks leave at home in between. What I like most about life at sea “What I like most about life at sea is constant change and new horizons, but especially wonderful colleagues throughout the fleet - Smart, funny, interesting people from so many departments who enrich my life.” 40 | MARITIME month on, two month off rotation. Oh and nearly forgot…good tax free pay, no-one likes to work for free! There are a great many opportunities for qualified British deck and engine officers so from here I can move to different types of shipping anywhere in the world. There are also a number of opportunities back on land, in ship construction, insurance and ship chartering.” is constant change and new horizons, but especially wonderful colleagues throughout the fleet – smart, funny, interesting people from so many departments who enrich my life. I also like sharing my enthusiasm for the ports and the tours with passengers via the lectures and one-two-one’s. What I like least is the unreality of it all and when I go on leave, I have to shop for myself, cook for myself again – it can take some getting used to. Also what I like least about my role is the extra hours it takes to write and update presentations! My uniform consists of a business suit on Sea days… and a polo shirt and cargo pants on port days. There are times when I am not required to be in uniform such as during the evening functions on deck when I follow passenger rig of the day – Formal, Semi Formal and Smart Casual. I can take my breaks in both passenger and crew areas, because my role is very passenger-facing and I have access to passenger areas. My main responsibilities are to present informative lectures to the passengers about our ports of call and the excursion programme. I work with my shore excursion colleagues at the desk selling tickets and giving information, assist in dispatch of the tours and participating in tours as much as possible. I also attend cocktail parties onboard as part of my responsibilities. My sea day normally starts at 8.30am and finishes at 8.00pm. My port day normally starts at 7.15am and finishes at 8.00pm. In addition, I work in the evenings on presentations, as and when required. This can be up to seven nights per 15 night cruise. I would recommend anyone to work at sea because there’s a big world out there!” SEA GOING Deck Officer Trainee ROSS MCBURNIE, Maersk Company Limited “As a Maersk trainee, you will spend three years at college gaining your HND’s or Foundation Degree, and so alongside the academic life I enjoy practical experience with worldwide travel. I have experiences of both academic and sea life. My first few days of college at Warsash Maritime Academy were mainly based around trying to settle in to a new routine, meeting new people and getting acquainted with my new surroundings. The college itself used the first week to introduce us cadets to the new environment as well as completing the necessary paperwork, handing out timetables for our first phase and making the colleges expectations of us clear. The college also produced a series of daily lectures by guest speakers from the maritime industry which, were designed to inform us about our future careers from a variety of perspectives. I found these lectures to be a good way of learning more about the path we had all chosen with the Merchant Navy. At the end of the week, as Maersk cadets we were flown up to Newcastle to participate in a two-day company induction which was fun and a good way of meeting fellow cadets from the company as well as gaining more of an insight into the values of the company and what we all have to come over the coming years! Boarding my first ship, the Maersk Bentonville in Busan, South Korea was a very exciting time. When we arrived at the Chef KELLY GREIG, Carnival Cruises “I am a Chef de Partie with Carnival Cruises. I work in the main galley in the larder department. What I like most about my role is working with different nationalities and learning about management skills. What I like least are the hours I work; also there are not many females or European staff in the galley! My typical work contract length is approximately six months at sea with eight weeks leave at home in between. What I enjoy most about life at sea is meeting new friends, travelling on the ocean every day and seeing different ports. What I like least is being away from home, missing family and friends, but you do make good friends on board who will help you through these times. I do wear a uniform which consists of a complete set of Chef’s whites and safety shoes and all of it is dockside with the agent, seeing the ship for the first time was a great experience – she was massive! It was very exciting to think that I would soon be part of her crew for four months. Once onboard I was shown to my cabin by the third officer and given a few minutes to settle in before going up and meeting the captain and completing the necessary paperwork. My next job quickly followed, as I was called by the chief officer to the aft mooring station to help recover the mooring lines as we left port. This busy few hours set the trend for the next few days as we had a busy schedule, which meant I was either called to a mooring station to assist the officer or called up to the bridge to assist the captain. Although I had a busy few days I really enjoyed them and it confirmed to me I had chosen the right career path.” provided and laundered onboard free of charge. My main responsibilities are making sure the cold food is prepared and ready for each service, supervising the staff in the larder during production and producing the plated items for lunch and dinner to the standard the Chef expects. I also follow up on hygiene checks, ordering, and the general running of the department as second in charge. My day normally starts at 7.00am and can finish as late as 10.30pm but this can vary depending on whether we are at sea or in port. I do have set break times which I take in the crew mess, on deck in the crew area that has a small swimming pool and games court, in my cabin or if in port I can go ashore. There is also a gym, internet café and library for us to use. My role is not very passenger facing but I can have access to passenger areas and need to apply for a privilege pass first, as this is agreed on a rota basis. There are times when I am not required to be in uniform such as going ashore and when my shift finishes. The social life is good and I am able to socialise with other colleagues in the crew bar and mess room or if in port, I can go ashore with them. In the event of an emergency, I have a safety role to play as Section Leader. I am responsible for the checking of my area and that the staff are all accounted for. I follow the instructions given by the bridge and my Zone Commander. I would recommend anyone to work at sea because you learn different skills while working in a large operation, the chance to see different ports, meet new people of different nationalities and make new friends.” MARITIME | 41 Trainee Engineer CHRISTOPHER ELLIS, Shell Ship Management Ltd. “Joining Shell seemed like the perfect way to combine two of my favourite interests.” “I’ve been interested in engineering since I was very small and I do a lot of boating in my spare time. Joining Shell seemed like the perfect way to combine two of my favourite interests. It also means I can visit places I wouldn’t normally get to see, and work with people from all over the world. Since joining MV Haminea two months ago, I’ve been to India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore – whilst doing my practical studies onboard. The work is hard but very rewarding. It’s the first job I’ve done where I feel like I’m really achieving something. And there’s a genuine sense of team spirit to get the job done. Of course, it’s not all work. You get the evenings off to relax with the crew. Every now and again the whole ship gets together to have a BBQ and let off steam, and when the ship reaches port you’re allowed to go ashore and spend your hard earned money! If you’re interested in engineering and looking for something different to a normal nine-to-five job (even though we do work eight-to-five onboard!) then maybe a career at sea is for you.” Your maritime Job board www.clicandsea.co.uk A click . the sea . one job Job adverts CV library Career fair OFFSHORE MERCHANT NAVY SHIPBUILDING SERVICES PORTS CRUISES w w w. c l i c a n d s e a . c o . u k 42 | MARITIME SEA GOING Marine Engineer NICOLE FIOLET, Maersk “It was once said to be bad luck to have females onboard a sea-going vessel; however we are now seeing more and more women defying this myth. Although the Merchant Navy is seen as a male-dominant industry : Maersk is actively encouraging young women to consider the Merchant Navy as a career, starting with a cadetship and moving up the ranks to become Masters and Chief Engineers on some of the largest commercial vessels in the world. I am one of the few women engineers in the British Merchant Navy. I wanted to have a career at sea after sailing as a waitress for a few months while deciding what to do with my future; I decided that this life was for me as I hated the monotony of office life and I loved the banter and atmosphere on the ship. I started doing a cadetship in marine engineering/electrotechnical engineering and my course was sponsored by Maersk, meaning that during my sea phases I got to sail on a container ship, travelling to the Far East and seeing many different places and cultures. At first I thought that working in a male-dominated environment would be difficult and that I’d have to work harder to prove myself, but I found that sailors were really friendly and helpful in my learning process. Everyone from the motormen to the chief engineers taught me something, whether it was safety or procedures, technical or theory related. I did, however, try harder to be the best during my college phases and that’s maybe how I won the prize for engineer cadet of the year (sponsored by IMAREST) and the prize for Engineering Portfolio (sponsored by the Marine Society) which I went and collected in London during the Marine Society Annual Court. I was amazed to receive both these prizes, as it showed that all the hard work during my three year cadetship hadn’t gone unnoticed. It was a real achievement for me. I now sail as an Electro-Technical Officer on the Maersk Dunkerque, one of the ferries on the Dover-Dunkerque route, and I love the fact that not one day is the same. It is hard work, but everyday is a challenge and I like the sense of achievement that I get after a hard day’s work. The only thing about sea life that I think is a shame is that there are so few women. We can all do the job and get great rewards for it but I think a lot of women are still scared of going away and spending time away from their loved ones. To them, I can say that we’re never really away from a telephone call or an email, and it’s great to be visiting far away places while earning a decent living. It makes the “coming home” times all the more better...” 20788_maersk ad:Layout 1 31/10/07 13:44 Page 1 Shell people aren’t all the same DECK OFFICER & MARINE ENGINEERING CADETSHIPS Every day we transport massive quantities of crude oil, refined products and liquefied natural gas around the world by sea. Right now we’re looking for more people with the talent and ambition to join our skilled and dedicated team, and help us meet the energy challenge. For you it's a chance to build a rewarding career, by gaining practical experience whilst you study for a fully sponsored Foundation Degree in Nautical Sciences or Marine Engineering. For more information contact us at ssmlcadets@shell.com www.shell.com/shipping/careers Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. adventure If you’re the kind of person who can’t stand looking at a lifetime of nine to fives then we have just the job for you Just the job for you.... Working for Maersk means you’re working for one of the world’s largest shipping fleets. And it’s definitely not 9 to 5. On our Officer Training Scheme, you’ll learn about practical seamanship, and also study for an internationally recognised qualification at a nautical college. You’ll see the world, and get paid for it – we’ll even fund your studies. For more information on these exciting opportunities please visit our website, www.seacareers.co.uk or contact the recruitment team at GBRMMSREC@maersk.com For information on training opportunities go to www.seacareers.co.uk MARITIME | 43 Warfare Officer Lieutenant NICHOLAS LUCAS Royal Navy “I joined the Royal Navy in 2002 as a warfare officer and having read Law at university. My first year of life in the Royal Navy was spent undergoing basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, though this time can vary depending on your chosen specialisation; for example you can join as an engineer, a logistician or perhaps a pilot or observer. As a warfare officer you are sent to sea as soon as you leave Dartmouth. After gaining about a year’s training and experience in the Fleet, and on successful completion of a professional course and examinations, you quickly find yourself stood on the bridge of a warship at sea as the Officer of the Watch and responsible to the Captain for the execution of the ship’s safe navigation as well as her overall safety. There is a lot more though to being an Officer in the Royal Navy than purely driving ships. In addition to looking after your sailors you are given responsibility for a part of the ship and its maintenance. You must also be ready to accept all sorts of other tasking that comes your way, such as becoming one of the ships boarding officers or arranging important port visits both at home and overseas. I spent my first two years as an officer of the watch and gunnery officer in a patrol ship where I was also responsible for ensuring that the ship practised live firings on a regular basis as well as accounting for the munitions held aboard. Counter balancing what are often long and demanding working hours is tremendous satisfaction with the early responsibility, a good social life, making friends for life as well as being rewarded with good leave periods. Of course another great side to the job is the travel. One of the highlights of my career so far was navigating a frigate from Wellington in New Zealand to Sydney, Australia and under the famous Harbour Bridge, before then spending three weeks alongside for maintenance. This was a part of our 10 month deployment to the Far East and circumnavigation of the globe, during which we visited over 28 countries. Currently, I work in central London for the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (an Admiral) and am involved in the Royal Navy’s engagement programme with industry and in particular large shipping companies. I also form part of the small central Sea Vision UK team, promoting the maritime sector. From here I shall return to the Fleet and train as a Principal Warfare Officer (PWO), responsible for the fighting of a ship at sea, and which is ultimately the route to every warfare officer’s goal; command of a warship.” Advertorial – Trinity House Trinity House is a unique maritime organisation dedicated to the safety of shipping and the welfare of seafarers and their dependants. From 2008 a new bursary scheme for the nautical leisure industry, the Leisure Industry Nautical Cadet Scheme (LINCS) is being funded by the charity arm of Trinity House in response to the growing requirement for qualified crew. In addition, Trinity House provides a Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme (MNSS) to give young people the opportunity to experience a variety of shipping companies and trades. Full scholarship bursaries and training are offered to young people each year to pursue careers in the Merchant Navy. Further Information: The MNSS contact details are: enquiries@trinityhousetraining.org www.trinityhousetraining.org Cadets for the LINCS bursary are nominated from a list of applicants to qualification providers. Currently these are UKSA and the University of Plymouth. For more information about their courses contact: UKSA - 01983 294941 University of Plymouth - 01752 600600 44 | MARITIME New bursary scheme launched at Southampton Boat Show A new Trinity House bursary scheme for the nautical leisure industry was launched at the 2008 Southampton Boat Show by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson. The Leisure Industry Nautical Cadet Scheme (LINCS) is being funded by the charity arm of Trinity House in response to the growing trend for super yachts and a growing requirement for qualified crew. The introduction of LINCS is an important advance in equipping the leisure sailing industry for the future. The scheme, trialled with RYA and MCA-approved qualification providers UKSA, The Maritime Academy and the University of Plymouth, provides successful applicants with payment of 90% of their tuition fees and a monthly allowance whilst they are under tuition. LINCS will run in parallel with another Trinity House bursary, the Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme, which has successfully delivered highly qualified and competent Merchant Navy Officers since its establishment 20 years ago. Three students from UKSA and three from the University of Plymouth received bursaries in the first year. The scheme may be expanded to more students or other appropriatelyendorsed training establishments in future years. www.trinityhousetraining.org SEA GOING Catering Services Logistician SAM ASHWORTH, Royal Navy “I am a Catering Services Logistician (Chef) and I am enjoying some shore time working in the Base Logistics Support Department in Portsmouth Dockyard, having served on HMS Southampton (a type 42 ‘air defence’ Destroyer) for four years and eagerly awaiting my professional qualifying course to be promoted to a Leading Hand. I have been trained to the highest standard to cook nutritious food for 240 of my colleagues as well as leaning how to prepare “posh nosh” for one of the Captain’s official functions. I have been in the Royal Navy for nearly seven years and although I do not miss home when I am visiting places like Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I do like to go home to Eastbourne to catch up with my family when I get the chance. In my spare time I love to do any kind of outdoor sporting activity I can, from hang gliding to water skiing! My top tip to someone thinking about the Royal Navy is to go for it, but learn to swim first and try and be tidy at home before you join up! The best bit about my job is the people I work with as well as the travel and sporting opportunities! When I first joined the RN, I did my nine weeks basic training, which is all about fitness, teamwork and becoming a sailor and then I went on to do my professional training, which is really good and makes you a very competent chef! I’ve just got two GCSEs (Maths and Business Studies) since I’ve been in the Navy so now I can do lots more and I’m thinking about going for Officer rank. Additional qualifications Advertorial – The Nautical Institute You know the name, but do you know what we really do? The Nautical Institute (NI) is the international professional body for qualified seafarers and others with an interest in shipping. We are a thriving association – with over 40 branches worldwide and more than 6,500 members in over 110 countries, dedicated to positive change in the maritime industry. Joining us brings you into a network of people who have a passion for achievement, strive for outstanding results and build effective relationships across the maritime industry. We are a major influence on positive change in shipping, and we’ve ambitious plans to grow this further. Our Seaways journal, publications, web services and projects help to provide real solutions for the industry and provide mariners’ input to decision-makers globally. Membership gives you a voice, and allows you to use your talent to take you, and us further. Nautical Institute membership is open to all nationalities. Benefits include access to formal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and careers support, Seaways, discounts on publications, conferences, seminars, and a true industry voice. Just by becoming a member, you make a crucial contribution to our work and access a wealth of membership benefits. See www.nautinst.org for more information. Take your career further, join us today. are both available and encouraged in the Navy. A lot of training is recognised and accredited with civilian qualifications – NVQ for example. Quite a lot of our people study for degrees, often via the Open University (distance learning etc). Where I work at HMS Raleigh, we have terms like schools do so you can go home for Christmas, summer and Easter, but after basic training you can have some weekends off too. The basic untrained pay is £13,013 and then after your professional training (or 26 weeks) it goes to £16,227. The initial training is great. They start you off with basics, so even if you aren’t that experienced you can learn. They then take you onto more complicated dishes and you work towards getting your NVQ Level 2. Then even when you join a ship you are still looked after and a more senior chef will show you the ropes. I was a bit nervous, but you soon meet your class mates and you realise you’re not alone and you become very good friends quickly. Whilst the staff expect you to try hard at everything, they also help you if you need it.” What is the Nautical Institute? - International Membership - Representative Voice - Global Networking - Maritime Publications - Confidential Reporting - Seaways Journal - Training Accreditations - DP Certification - Careers Guidance - CPD Systems It is your professional body. Join us today. www.nautinst.org MARITIME | 45 SEA GOING Weapons Engineer Officer Lieutenant Commander AHMED RUFAI AJAL Royal Navy “I grew up with a military background and a regimented, disciplined upbringing as my father served in the Nigerian Army, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Navy appealed more because you got to travel as well as fly from ships and I became a Weapons Engineer Officer. I joined after my A-levels as a Midshipman, following initial training ashore and at sea, I was promoted to Sub Lieutenant after two years. Three years later and having gained an in-service Degree in Electronic Engineering, I was promoted to Lieutenant. I was selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander nine years later, having served in a variety of interesting positions including recruiting officers from the London area, a six month operational deployment with the Army in Sierra Leone and another to Basrah in Iraq, several deployments at sea in HMS York, instructing at the maritime Warfare School and a year’s full time study for an MSc. I have been to some of the most fantastic places in the world, every continent except Australia just about. I have worked with some of the most professional people I could ever hope to meet, and I have made some brilliant lifelong friends. “I have worked with some of the most professional people I could ever hope to meet, and I have made some brilliant lifelong friends.” Leading Seaman (Warfare Specialist) KATIE ROGERS, Royal Navy “I joined the Royal Navy as an Electronic Warfare specialist in June 1998. After successfully completing my initial training in HMS Raleigh, I joined my first ship, HMS Invincible. Since joining HMS Westminster in May 2004, I have been employed as the Electronic Warfare Director. I am responsible for the defence of the ship and directing the Electronic Warfare team on the timely detection of missiles and enemy units threatening the ship. With state of the art surveillance and detection equipment I can detect hostile units at long range, giving me the time to advise the Command on how to counter the missile and keep the ship safe. I have built up a detailed knowledge of my specialisation which has been achieved through plenty of hard work! With lots of training and regular exercises your job does become second nature and is very rewarding knowing that if it was for real you’d have the knowledge to keep your shipmates safe. During my career I have visited about 70 ports from over 30 different countries and seen some amazing sights; something you wouldn’t get in a normal job. I still love doing it after nearly 10 years – the Royal Navy has so much to offer anyone who joins.” “I’ve seen and experienced many more things than most of my friends from school.” 46 | MARITIME It is a career not a job and soon becomes a way of life. Not everyone is suited to military let alone Naval life. There will be many challenges, personal and professional, to overcome and you will need determination, true strength of character and a belief that there isn’t a ceiling to stop you getting as far as you wish to go. I would like to go as high as I can go in the Navy because I would like to see a greater number of people from the ethnic minorities joining and making great progress. It has improved since my joining but still takes time and you have to have the interest initially once the perception about the Navy starts to change. Therefore by doing well, I hope to be part of that effort to change perceptions, so that if the young kids wish to serve in the Navy today, they can see that they won’t be the first nor the last, and that it is achievable.” ROYAL NAVY: JUST LISTENING TO MUSIC THIS WEEKEND The venue is Sydney, Australia, but it could be just another weekend in any other major port in the world. Whether you choose to work in medicine, catering, warfare or one of the many other roles available, as part of a highly trained team, a career in the Royal Navy will take you further than you’ve ever been before. 6 WEEKS PAID HOLIDAY FREE MEDICAL & DENTAL CARE CIVILIAN-ACCREDITED TRAINING SPECIAL SKILLS PAY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PENSION If you want more than just a job, join the Royal Navy and live a life without limits. Join the Royal Navy royalnavy.mod.uk/careers or call 08456 07 55 55 LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS SEA GOING Logistics Officer Lieutenant MARK TOOGOOD Royal Navy “I’ve been in the Royal Navy since 1991. I joined as a Chef and served on a number of ships. In 2000, I qualified as a Physical Training Instructor and since then have served on HMS Iron Duke and at The Royal Navy School of Physical Training, where I worked as a Staff Instructor. In 2007, I decided I was ready to take my career to the next level and attended the Admiralty Interview Board to apply for Officer Training. I was selected and passed out of Britannia Naval College as a Logistics Officer this April. As head of the logistics department on a submarine my role is to manage the output of the three logistics sub departments – catering services (chefs & stewards), personnel administration and supply chain (18 personnel). I also conduct watchkeeping duties in the control room involving the periscope and navigation. Naval operations and exercises are highly complex and logistics is the detailed organisation that makes them possible. And as any experienced military commander knows, effective logistical support can make the difference between success and failure for an operation. Whatever the Royal Navy is doing, it is my task to ensure everything runs smoothly. The most satisfying part of the job is being the head of my own department at a relatively early stage of my officer career and ensuring that the submarine is provided with the stores and equipment it requires, and with a properly paid and well fed ship’s company. With more than 160 people, dealing with their food, their mail, their pay and all kinds of personnel and staff issues, it’s a big responsibility. When it’s all working right though, it’s great. As with all jobs there will be mundane tasks that are essential to successful output; however, I would describe the overall package that the Navy offers as anything but boring! Being a logistician is such a diverse and rewarding role, it can be described as the ‘art of the impossible’; no military campaigns have been successful without co-ordinated and effective logistics. Aside from core responsibilities, you could be employed as a Damage Control Officer in a Frigate or a Destroyer; the officer in charge of a boarding party in either the Northern Arabian Gulf or the West Indies; a plethora of ‘out of branch’ jobs (like my current post in a busy marketing department on the Captain of Naval Recruiting’s staff). The world is your oyster! I originally joined the RN because I knew that I would never be good enough to play county cricket! I joined in 1991 as a cook so that I could play a minor county standard of cricket for the RN representative team. It wasn’t until I matured that I realised that the RN was a fantastic employer; I have travelled to some amazing places, experienced camaraderie beyond belief, participating in important and rewarding deployments.” Advertorial – The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Supporting British Forces Around the World. ship team. As well as the traditional responsibilities of waiting at tables and housekeeping duties, you could find yourself assisting on a flight deck or other operational areas of the ship. A career at sea is full of adventure, and who better to do it with than the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). Whether you’re looking to join us as a Rating or Officer cadet, you’ll benefit from training and support that will maximise your potential. The RFA can offer you a good life – you’ll enjoy the time to discover the sights and sounds of foreign ports of call, competitive salary and leave entitlement. A normal voyage length of four months entitles Ratings to 69 days paid leave and Officers to 87 days paid leave. The RFA employs over 2000 civilian Officers and Ratings, and is one of the biggest employers in British shipping. Communications Communications are a key part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In this exciting role, you would operate a wide range of communications systems including 48 | MARITIME radio, teletype, satellite, GMDSS and commercial radio installations. Supply Supply is our business, but we need supplying too. In this virtual role, you’d be responsible for the efficient management of cash flow, catering, stores/supplies and personnel administration on our ships. Catering As a cook, you’ll undertake all the duties involved in running a galley and that may be feeding several hundred people. Join us as a steward and be a vital member of the whole Engineering A modern ship relies on its electrical and electronic systems. Maintaining these is no ordinary task. In any one day, you could be responsible for navigational equipment, power generation plant, cranes, lifts or sonar. Marine Engineering There is more to marine engineering than the maintenance of a ship’s main engines. Your responsibilities would also include the operating and servicing of pumps, compressors, boilers, power generation and refrigeration equipment. For more information about a career in the RFA visit RFA.MOD.UK or call 08456 04 05 20. ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY CAREERS AT SEA HOW FAR COULD A CAREER WITH THE RFA TAKE YOU? ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, AT ANY TIME. “When I discovered the RFA offered greater opportunities for training and experience across a broader spectrum I decided that it was the best route for me.” N Stubbs MERCHANT NAVY MILITARY ACTION 08456 04 05 20 RFA.MOD.UK THE RFA Unlike a commercial shipping company, you never know where your next destination will be. No foreign land or port is out of the question because the RFA is responsible for supporting the Royal Navy, keeping them supplied with everything they need - fuel, food, spares and ammunition. Or you could be delivering vital humanitarian aid whenever it is needed. YOUR ROLE IN THE RFA Imagine being in charge on the bridge of a ship, taking responsibility for the engine room, overseeing the efficiency of all the electrical systems on board or catering for a hungry ship. If you can picture yourself in any of these roles, you may have what it takes to become a Rating or trainee RFA Officer. WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU The RFA offers “a life less ordinary” for practical individuals with initiative, who enjoy a challenge and would relish the opportunity to travel around the world. The salary, training and leave entitlement is highly competitive combining all the benefits of a merchant shipping organisation with a true vocation and the excitement of supporting military operations or providing disaster relief. FIND OUT MORE You can find out more by visiting RFA.MOD.UK or by calling 08456 04 05 20 Fishing Commercial Sea Fishing The breadth and level of occupations in sea fishing vary depending upon the size of the vessel, type of catch and area in which the vessel operate. To go to sea on a commercial sea fishing vessel, individuals must undergo statutory safety training in basic sea survival, fire fighting and first aid. In addition, skippers, mates and engineers working on fishing vessels above a certain length and engine power, or operating in certain sea areas, are required to hold statutory Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Certificates of Competency. 50 | MARITIME Roles • skipper • mate • competent deckhand (deckie) • engineer • deckie learner (apprentice, trainee fisherman) • superintendent engineer SEA GOING Fishermen STEVE AND CHRIS WIGHTMAN, Lowestoft “We are brothers, and we longline for cod off the coast of Lowestoft, Suffolk. Fishing seasonally, we longline for cod, sea bass and thornback ray during the winter months and sole, plaice and sometimes lobster in drift nets in the summer. The methods we use to fish not only avoid issues such as by-catch and discarding, but also ensure that the very best fish is caught. We are very glad that this year enough cod and skate have been around this summer to keep us longlining, the method we know and love best. We are members of the Responsible Fishing Scheme – and Safer Lives we share tales of our daily lives at sea and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes ashore on our blog on the Seafish Safer Ships website (www.seafish.org). Cleaner Seas When you do this job every day it’s easy to forget that it’s a world apart from people’s lives ashore, and longline fishermen are quite a rare species. It’s good to have the chance to get our voice across in our blog, as so often it’s only other fishermen and seagulls that we can talk to! Our boat, Maximus, is less than 10m long, which means its voyages are sometimes restricted by the weather conditions. The Maritime and This gives usCoastguard time to join ourAgency 73-yearold father, in the baiting shed, We are a world classTerry, organisation committed to preventing loss of life sea, continuously where lines areatbaited by hand, and improvinggear maritime safety for andthe protecting is prepared next trip.the marine environment. We are very happy that some around the If you’d likeother to joinfishermen us visit ourfrom website country have contacted us expressing interest in using longlines in their area too. There is a lot of room for experimenting with this method. There are many types of hook available and we are sure that experimenting with different bait and hooks will open up new sustainable fisheries for fishermen wanting to land top quality fish. The Responsible Fishing Scheme was launched by Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, in 2006 to promote good operational and environmental practices. Nearly 300 fishermen in Britain are now certified by the scheme and a further 230 are in the process of assessment. But despite it all, the industry survives by the skin of its teeth, and it’s only because men like us love the job. We keep trying to find ways to change things for the better and earn an honest wage. We hope the public can show that they still want a fishing industry, an industry that’s changing from the old ways of kill all you can to a more sustainable fishery, in balance with nature.” “We hope the public can show that they still want a fishing industry, an industry that’s changing from the old ways of kill all you can to a more sustainable fishery, in balance with nature.” and click on careers. www.mcga.gov.uk Advertorial – The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas As an island nation, 95% of the UK’s trade by weight is by sea, and recruitthat ad 86x125.indd 1 there can be no97-322 doubt shipping is vital to the UK economy. 17/10/08 Our fishermen and fishing communities also rely on the sea for their livelihood, and many of us use beaches and the coast for leisure and sport. We have 11,072 miles of outstandingly beautiful coastline. This Agency is responsible throughout the UK for implementing the Government’s maritime safety policy. That includes coordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty’s Coastguard. We also manage the UK Ship Register, which is one of the best performing flags with a reputation for maintaining the highest international standards. Our marine surveyors check that UK and foreign ships meet UK and international safety rules. We work to prevent the loss of lives at the coast and at sea, to ensure that ships are safe, and to prevent coastal pollution: Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas. We are putting increasing effort into prevention work and a measure of our success is when accidents are avoided, or where we intervene to minimise their impact. Protecting our environment is important to so many people and shipping has the lowest carbon cost per mile of all transport modes. We design our services to meet customer needs and aim to use technology to make our services more customer focused. Working from 19 coastal Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) our 24/7 capability is maintained by some 430 watch keeping staff. We employ over 1,200 people and are supported by 3,500 volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers. Safer Lives Safer Ships Cleaner Seas 09:19:05 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency We are a world class organisation committed to preventing loss of life at sea, continuously improving maritime safety and protecting the marine environment. If you’d like to join us visit our website and click on careers. www.mcga.gov.uk MARITIME | 51 97-322 recruit ad 86x125.indd 1 17/10/08 09:19:05 52 | MARITIME PORTS & SERVICES Ports & services T he ports sector is diverse, embracing a wide range of activities that are critical to many parts of the UK economy. Ports are part of the vital transport networks, which support domestic and international trade. They also embrace fishing, passenger, leisure, car ferry operations and support for the offshore industry as well as the provision of coastal defences, conservation and environmental services. In total, well over 90% of the UK’s international trade by volume (75% by value) moves through them. Freight movements through UK ports have increased by 33% over the last 20 years and several UK ports rank amongst the top European ports by freight volume. Composition The UK ports sector comprises ports, harbours, private terminals, stevedoring companies and specialist labour supply organisations, in total around 500 companies employing approximately 25,500 people. The sector’s employers are located around the coastal regions of all four UK nations. The largest numbers are located in the South East and Eastern regions of England. Some 40% of sector organisations employ between 11 and 49 staff, whilst a further 30% of organisations employ between one and 10 staff. All but 5% of organisations are Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with less than 250 staff. Careers Ports and harbours employ a range of specialist people to ensure that they are operated efficiently. For example: Harbour masters, marine pilots, operators of vessel traffic services and other marine personnel are employed to ensure the safe navigation of ships in harbour waters and the safety of those engaged in other activities such as yachting and windsurfing. Port operators are engaged to ensure that freight is moved efficiently from a ship moored at the quayside directly to a road vehicle or train for onward transportation, or to a warehouse or holding area for temporary storage. Port operatives are sometimes required to operate large items of mobile and fixed lifting plant and other vehicles, such as forklift trucks and mobile cranes. People are also employed in passenger operations helping to ensure that customers of ferry services or cruise liners pass through the port in a safe and efficient manner whilst maintaining a high level of customer service. Passenger facilities at ports can be similar to those at airports, providing catering and other recreational services for passengers waiting to board the ship. Engineers are employed to ensure that plant, vehicles, boats and infrastructure are well maintained and repaired when necessary. There are mechanical, electrical and civil engineers working in ports on a wide range of specialist equipment and structures. Other people are employed in ports and harbours in work that is common to other industries. For example, in administration, finance and personnel-related roles. MARITIME | 53 Ports The Port of London – Serving Britain’s Capital City The Port of London is one of the busiest ports in the UK. Situated at the heart of one of Europe’s key population centres and most prosperous markets, the Port provides a strong combination of location, transport connections, facilities, and services for the whole of London and the surrounding areas. With over 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities all along the Thames, London is the UK’s second largest port. Currently, over 50 million tonnes of cargo is handled each year. Its riverside terminals handle a wide range of cargoes – ensuring that the Port of London is a key part of the regional economy and of the transport and logistics systems for businesses throughout the area. Overseeing this busy and diverse River – with both commercial vessels and leisure traffic – is the Port of London Authority. The PLA provides navigational, pilotage and other services for users of the Thames. Port of London terminals and related shipping activities provide direct employment for over 30,000 people. The Port adds £3.41 billion gross value to the economies of London and the South East annually. The 2012 Olympics is another important opportunity for greater use of the Thames. The river is already an excellent means of moving project loads and other construction materials efficiently, economically and in a very environmentally friendly way. 54 | MARITIME Deputy Harbour Master CHARLOTTE BEEBY, Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Harbour Commissioners “When I was younger I loved being around the water and as I grew up I gained experience through working for local marine-related companies. Using this knowledge, I took up the position of Temporary Berthing Master at Yarmouth Harbour in early 2008. After just a day in the job I realised I didn’t want to leave; that I’d found my ideal job. Then I had the opportunity to apply for the Deputy Harbour Master’s role and was appointed in August. I couldn’t believe my luck. I studied at Cowes High School for both my GCSE’s and A levels. I studied for extra qualifications including Day Skipper, Powerboat Advanced with commercial endorsement and various STCW95 courses. Yarmouth Harbour is mainly based within the leisure sector of the industry, accommodating residents and visitors alike. The Deputy Harbour Master’s job description is a long and varied one. There is the day-to-day running of the harbour out on the water, managing a small team of berthing staff, collection of harbour dues and mooring fees, enforcing byelaws and general maintenance along with Health and Safety. My office role sees me writing up rotas, timesheets, along with attending management meetings, running appraisal systems, annual reports and organising tasks such as dredging licenses. The most rewarding aspects of my career so far have been meeting new people every day and helping to make their visit enjoyable, along with encouraging staff to come forward with ideas, changes and helping to implement these. The most challenging area so far has been the immense learning curve. I’m sure I still have lots to learn. Currently there is a new three to four year Harbour Master’s Qualification in the pipeline, due to be released soon. Once this has been implemented, I shall be looking to sign on the dotted line!” PORTS & SERVICES Port Manager LORRAINE HUGHES, Folkestone Harbour Company Ltd “I first became interested in the sector when I was secretary to the Harbour Master which was an administration role and I was then offered position when the Harbour Master left. I originally had secretarial qualifications and I learnt other skills by working closely with the Harbour Master. I have since attended a PFSO course (Ports Facilities Security Officer) and aim to do other courses in the future. My job entails working in the management of the port and I While working onboard hi-tech modern ships operating worldwide, the Ship Safe Training Group (SSTG) provide world-class training programmes leading to first class qualifications to progress your career in the Merchant Navy. With more than 30 years’ industry experience, the SSTG recruit on behalf of 35 maritime companies operating in excess of 300 vessels. Your tuition and other fees will be paid by your sponsor and you’ll have the opportunity to travel the world while undertaking your professional training, at the end of which you are free to leave with NO DEBT! refer to the Harbour Authority who are my advisers on nautical matters. I liaise with all personnel from staff to the general public and I also look after a small inner harbour with leisure craft and yachts. Also, on the administrative side, for example, my work includes working out budgets and ensuring the smooth running of all aspects of the harbour, including ensuring health, safety, security and general maintenance is kept up to scratch. It has been very rewarding becoming an equal in this very male-oriented industry and learning as much as I can to do with the nautical side of things.” THERE ARE CAREERS AND THERE ARE MERCHANT NAVY CAREERS! Recruiting now for Trainee Deck Officers and Trainee Engineer Officers While working onboard hi-tech modern ships operating worldwide, the Ship Safe Training Group (SSTG) provide worldclass training programmes leading to first class qualifications to progress your career in the Merchant Navy. With more than 30 years’ industry experience, the SSTG recruit on behalf of 35 maritime companies, operating in excess of 300 vessels. Ship Safe Training places available now! The Future’s exciting, the future is here. Contact the SSTG today! To find out more, visit our web site: www.sstg.org or you can obtain a full information pack by contacting us by phone, fax or email. One of our friendly advisors will always be ready to assist. There are careers. And then there are Merchant Navy careers. The future is exciting, the future is here. Contact the SSTG today! undertaking your professional training your tuition and • While • Foundation Degrees start other fees will be paid by your sponsor, and you will have the January and September opportunity to travel the world. • At the end of your training you are free to leave with NO DEBT! start • HNDs To find out more, visit our website: www.sstg.org or you can • obtain January, May a full information pack by contacting us by phone, fax or Email. One of our friendly advisers will always be ready to assist. Ship Safe Training Group Ltd The Precinct Rochester Kent ME1 1SR Tel: 01634 820 820 Fax: 01634 820 821 E-mail: recruitment@sstg.org Web: www.sstg.org and September Honours • BSc start September Ship Safe Training Group Ltd The Precinct Rochester Kent ME1 1SR Tel: 01634 820 820 Fax: 01634 820 821 E-mail: recruitment@sstg.org Web: www.sstg.org MARITIME | 55 02093 - SSTG 86x125 Ad v2.indd 1 16/10/08 SSTG 4:36:21 pm Ad v1.indd 1 86x125 16/10/08 4:36:52 pm Which Course? A good grounding in maths and sciences provides an excellent foundation – although these are not required for all routes to a maritime career. After completing your GCSEs or Scottish Standard Grades, you need to decide whether to stay in formal education or to come into the maritime world through an apprenticeship or other training programme. If you are choosing A-Levels or Scottish Highers (or the International Baccalaureate), then maths and sciences will be very valuable to you. Other A-Levels such as those in science, engineering, the built environment, business, leisure and recreation and information will also be particularly useful. Vocational training – what’s available? BTEC Nationals, City & Guilds courses, NVQs/SVQs and apprenticeships are available in various maritime industries. You could choose a specific industry-related NVQ or SVQ such as boat building or port operations: a more general NVQ/SVQ such as engineering, IT, insurance, management, sport and recreation or a specific apprenticeship such as fish farming or boat building and repair. Apprenticeships can also be a route to higher education, 56 | MARITIME either through a normal degree course or new programmes such as foundation degrees. There are also a wide variety of training programmes to develop skills in navigation, sailing and seamanship, particularly through the Royal Yachting Association certification structure. Higher education – what to choose? With a wide range of higher education courses you might decide to do a specific degree course, leading to a particular career such as naval architecture, maritime law, oceanography, environment and coastal management, and marine leisure management. Or you could choose a more general degree such as nautical science, maritime studies, marine engineering, marine technology and marine science, for example, to open doors to a range of career opportunities. Foundation degrees are available in the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy and other maritime-related foundation degrees. Scholarships, sponsorships and sandwich courses You will find that there are various funding opportunities to get you started, often at degree level. Not only do they provide financial benefits for you, but also valuable training and experience, as most sponsors require you to work for WHICH COURSE them during the holidays. For instance, you may be able to get sponsorship from an employer for an engineering degree. Shipping companies and the Royal Navy provide sponsored training and qualifications for seagoing careers and foundation degrees. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, National Environmental Research Council, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and the Society for Underwater Technology provide scholarship opportunities that would be worth checking out. To find out more talk to your careers advisor, take a look at relevant websites and attend careers fairs – as well as having a good read through this magazine! MARITIME | 57 Find out about sea going foundation degrees A s a qualified seafaring officer, you will be able to work worldwide on the many ship types that make up the British shipping industry. These include cruise ships, ferries, oil and chemical tankers, gas carriers, container ships, bulk carriers, naval and offshore support ships and other specialised ship types. There are two main departments in which you can train – deck or engineering; • Deck officer handling the navigation, communications, cargo and overall management of the ship and the people on board. • Engineering officer operating and maintaining all the mechanical and electrical/electronic equipment throughout the ship. In both roles, you would have control of the latest technological systems and be working with highly sophisticated machinery. Your world-class training programme 58 | MARITIME will give you your foundation degree and lead to professional seafaring certification, known as the Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certificate. Should you later decide to move from seagoing employment, your qualifications and experience will be in high demand in the thousands of land-based jobs that require the experience of qualified seafarers. What foundation degree can I study? The exact title of your foundation degree will vary by college/ university but will be in either of the following subject areas: • Marine Operations for Deck Officer • Marine Engineering for Engineering Officer In both subject areas the foundation degree programme includes study for the OOW professional seafarer certificate. The Scottish education system is different and foundation degrees are not available through Scottish universities. However, you will Training Find out about foundation degrees in the maritime sector Foundation degrees are designed with employers, and combine academic study with work place learning to equip people with relevant knowledge and skills to improve performance and productivity. Employees do not necessarily need formal qualifications to apply for a foundation degree as previous relevant work experience will be taken into account. Foundation degrees are awarded by universities and require equivalent standards of academic attainment as the second year of an honours degree. Admissions tutors are usually very happy to talk to prospective students about their suitability for the course. There are a range of foundation degrees available in the maritime sector (see course listings on page 60 for full details). These include subjects such as Marine Conservation, Marine Leisure Management and Marine Engineering. The Merchant Navy also offer a foundation degree in subjects such as marine operations for deck officer (see main feature) • Foundation degrees aim to equip students with the skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to employment. • Many students are already employed and undertake a foundation degree in order to get ahead in their chosen career, others undertake a foundation degree when returning to work or changing their career. • Foundation degrees are a qualification in their own right. However, after completing a foundation degree you can go on to study for an honours degree (this usually takes about a year). For more information on foundation degrees see www.fdf.ac.uk and www.ucas.ac.uk. WHICH COURSE be able to study an identical programme leading to equivalent Scottish qualifications and the OOW certification. What will the training involve? Your training will start at a nautical college or university with a residential phase, followed by a seagoing training phase. At sea you will put your learning into practice and you will work under the supervision of qualified officers. Your time will then alternate between college studies and training at sea. Training lasts approximately three years and is fully paid for by the shipping company that sponsors you. Sea phases will be on a ship that could be trading anywhere in the world and your sponsoring company will arrange your transport to the relevant port to join the ship. On completion of your foundation degree and OOW certification, you will be qualified as an officer. Further training and experience will enable you to work through the ranks to senior officer and you could achieve the highest levels on board as captain or chief engineer. You can also further your academic studies to honours degree level. What are the entry requirements? You will need: • 120 UCAS points in unspecified A Levels • Good grades at GCSE level in English, Maths and Physics (or Dual/Combined Science). This will generally mean grade A or B. • Your sponsoring company may also have their own qualification requirements. Where can I study? You will study at one of the following colleges/universities offering Merchant Navy Foundation Degree training, depending on your sponsoring company training arrangements: • Blackpool and the Fylde College in association with Liverpool John Moores University: www.blackpool.ac.uk • Glasgow College of Nautical Studies (for the Scottish equivalent programme) in association with Strathclyde University (Deck) and Glasgow Caledonian University (Engineering): www.gcns.ac.uk • South Tyneside College in association with the University of Sunderland and Northumbria University (Engineering): www.stc.ac.uk • Warsash Maritime Academy – part of Southampton Solent University: www.warsashcentre.co.uk • Liverpool John Moores University: www.livjm.ac.uk How do I get funding? Sponsorship for training is available from shipping companies and training organisations. Your course fees would be paid as well as a salary or training allowance. You need to apply directly to the shipping companies and training organisations. Shipping companies: www.careersatsea.org for list of companies. Marine related degrees: www.ucas.co.uk Careers Information: Careers at Sea, Merchant Navy Training Board, 12 Carthusian Street, London EC1M 6EZ. Tel: 0800 085 0973 www.careersatsea.org MARITIME | 59 Maritime-related degree courses The degree course list has been split into two – foundation degrees, and ordinary and honours degrees. Universities and colleges offering maritime-related degree courses Aberystwyth University Anglia Ruskin University Askham Bryan College Bangor University Bishop Burton College Blackpool and the Fylde College (an associate college of Lancaster University) Bournemouth University Cardiff University Cornwall College Coventry University Duchy College Glydwr University Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Kingston University Leeds Park Lane College Liverpool John Moores University Myerscough College Napier University, Edinburgh Newcastle University Pembrokeshire College Queen Mary, University of London Queen’s University Belfast South Devon College South Tyneside College 60 | MARITIME Southampton Solent University Swansea Metropolitan University Swansea University The University of Aberdeen The University of Essex The University of Hull The University of Liverpool The University of Salford The University of Stirling The University of Strathclyde The University of Teesside UHI Millennium Institute University Campus Suffolk University College Falmouth University College, (University of London) University of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Pontypridd University of Greenwich University of Plymouth University of Portsmouth University of Southampton University of St Andrews University of the West of England, Bristol University of Ulster COURSE LISTINGS Key 3FT = 3 years full time course 4FT = 4 years full time course PT = Part time study course Fdg = Foundation degree Lang = Language SW = Sandwich course Maritimerelated foundation degrees Askham Bryan College • Sustainable Environmental What are foundation degrees? Technology FdSc (DF47) • Hospitality & Beach Resort Management FdA (N290) • Integrated Environmental Management FdSc (F854) • Marine Aquaculture FdSc (D435) • Marine Conservation FdSc (F711) • Marine Environmental Management FdSc (F790) • Marine Leisure Management FdSc (N291) Foundation degrees are designed and delivered in partnership with Bishop Burton College • Marine Science FdSc (F710) employers to equip people with the • Sustainable Environmental • Nautical Science FdSc (J611) relevant knowledge and skills for Management Technologies FdSc certain jobs. (F750) • Renewable Energy Technologies FdSc (F850) • Transport & Distribution FdSc (J960) They are offered by universities in partnership with higher education Blackpool and the Flyde Collge colleges and further education (an associate college of Lancaster Duchy College colleges. The study methods can University) • Adventure Sports Coaching FdSc be very flexible, which means that • Marine Biology and Coastal Zone they are available to people already in work, those wishing to embark Management FdSc (FC71) • Nautical Science FdSc (J690) (CN68) • River Conservation Managment FdSc (D447) on a career change and to those who have recently completed level 3 Bournemouth University University of Greenwich qualifications (e.g. A-levels, Advanced • Marine Ecology and Conservation • Fisheries Management FdSc (ND24) Apprenticeships or NVQ3). FdSc (F710) • Marine Engineering FdE (H351) • Marine Operations FdSc (J610) How long is a foundation degree? Cornwall College • Logistics FdA (N530) A full-time course usually takes two • Applied Ecology FdSc (C180) • Transport, Logistics Operations and years. Part-time courses may take • Beach Safety Management FdSc longer. • Boat Design & Production FdSc Entry requirements? Universities and colleges set their Administration FdA (JN95) (NN2V) (H510) • Cruise Ship Operations FdSc (N852) Glydwr University • Renewable Energy Systems FdSc (HH63) own entry requirements. Formal qualifications are not always necessary as appropriate commercial experience can be more relevant. Why get a foundation degree? It is often a direct route to a job, however, some graduates choose to combine employment with further study and they can provide the opportunity to progress to a full honours degree with around 12 months of further study. They are also a route to further professional qualifications. MARITIME | 61 • Marine Biology and Wildlife Biology (C191) 3FT Hon BSc • Natural History and Animal Behaviour (C197) 3FT Hon BSc Bangor University • Applied Marine Biology (C162) 3FT Hon BSc • Applied Marine Biology (C163) 4SW Hon BSc • Applied Terrestrial and Marine Ecology (C180) 3FT Hon BSc • Applied Terrestrial and Marine Ecology (C183) 4SW Hon BSc • Coastal Geography (F841) 3FT Hon BSc • Geological Oceanography (F650) 3FT Hon BSc • Sustainable Development FdSc University of Teesside • Marine Biology (C160) 3FT Hon BSc • Transport & Logistics FdA (JN92) • Marine Biology/Oceanography Leeds Park Lane College University of the West of England, • Marine Biology/Zoology (CC13) 3FT • Environmental Conservation FdSc Bristol (H638) (CF17) 3FT Hon BSc (F890) • Rivers and Coastal Engineering FdSc (H224) Liverpool John Moores University • Nautical Science FdSc (J615) Myerscough College, University of Salford • Watersports Leisure Management FdA (N222) University of Plymouth • Electrical and Renewable Energy Hon BSc • Marine Chemistry (F140) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Environmental Studies Maritimerelated ordinary and honours degree courses FdSc (HH62) (F710) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Vertebrate Zoology (C351) 3FT Hon BSc •Master of Marine Biology (C161) 4FT Hon MMBiol •Master of Marine Science (F711) 4FT Hon MMSci • Ocean Science (F700) 3FT Hon BSc • Oceanography and Computing (F7G5) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Engineering FdSc (J602) The University of Aberdeen • Nautical Science FdSc (J607) • Marine Biology (C350) 4FT Hon BSc • Zoology with Marine Zoology (C350) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine and Coastal Resource South Devon College Management (F710) 4FT Hon BSc • Yacht Operations FdSc (J610) Southampton Solent University • Marine Engineering FdEng (H500) Blackpool and the Fylde College (an associate college of Lancaster Aberystwyth University University) • Marine & Freshwater Biology (C164) • Marine Biology and Coastal Zone 3FT Hon BSc Management (FC71) 2FT Fdg FdSc • Marine Biology and Coastal Zone South Tyneside College Anglia Ruskin University • Marine Operations FdSc (J691) • Marine Biology and Animal Behaviour (C198) 3FT Hon BSc University Campus Suffolk • Logistics and Transport FdA (NK24) 62 | MARITIME • Marine Biology and Ecology & Conservation (C196) 3FT Hon BSc Mgt - Top up (F710) 1FT Hon BSc • Nautical Science (006J) 3FT HND • Nautical Science (J690) 3FT Fdg FdSc COURSE LISTINGS Bournemouth University University of Glamorgan, Cardiff The University of Hull • Environment and Coastal and Pontypridd •C oastal Marine Biology (CD14) 3FT Management (F841) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Archaeology (V461) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Ecology and Conservation • Biology (C100) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc • Geography (F801) 3FT Hon BSc • Physical Geography (F840) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc (F710) 2FT Fdg FdSc Bristol • Rivers and Coastal Engineering (H220) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc • Marine Engineering (H351) 2FT Fdg FdE • Marine Engineering Technology Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh • Marine Geography (F842) 4SW Hon BSc •M arine and Freshwater Biology (C163) 3FT Hon BSc •M arine and Freshwater Biology (with Fdg) (C165) 4FT Hon BSc •M arine and Freshwater Biology (C163) 3FT Hon BSc Hon BSc • Marine Geography (F841) 3FT Hon BSc •H istory with Maritime History (V1VA) Kingston University • Applied Marine Biology (C160) 4FT Cardiff University (CD1K) 4FT Hon BSc (H350) 3FT/4SW Hon BEng • Rivers and Coastal Engineering (H224) 2FT Fdg FdSc •C oastal Marine Biology (with Fdn) 3FT Hon BA University of Greenwich University of the West of England, Hon BSc The University of Liverpool UHI Millennium Institute • Marine Science (F710) 4FT Hon BSc • Nautical Science (006J) 1FT HNC •C ivil and Maritime Engineering (HJ26) 4FT Hon MEng • Marine Biology (C160) 3FT Hon BSc • Nautical Science (106J) 3FT HND Cornwall College Liverpool John Moores University • Cruise Ship Operations (N852) 2FT •M aritime Business and Management Fdg FdA • Marine Environmental Management (F790) 2FT Fdg FdSc • Marine Science (F710) 2FT Fdg FdSc • Nautical Science (J611) 2FT Fdg FdSc Coventry University • Boat Design (EH23) 4FT Hon MDes • Boat Design (EH25) 4FT Hon BA • Boat Design (WH23) 4FT Hon MDes • Boat Design (WH25) 4FT Hon BA The University of Essex • Marine & Freshwater Biology (C164) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine and Freshwater Biology (4 yrs including Fdg) (C162) 4FT Hon BSc University College Falmouth • Marine and Natural History Photography (EF67) 3FT Hon BA • Marine and Natural History Photography (WF67) 3FT Hon BA MARITIME | 63 English (J6Q3) 1FT Hon BSc •E xtended Science - (Marine Science) (CF00) 1FT Hon BSc •M arine and Composites Technology (J600) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc •M arine Biology (C161) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc •M arine Biology and Coastal Ecology (C160) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc •M arine Biology and Oceanography (CF17) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc •M arine Engineering (J602) 2FT Fdg FdSc •M arine Geoscience (F650) 3FT Hon BSc •M arine Sports Science (C607) 2FT Fdg FdSc •M arine Sports Technology (J601) 3FT Hon BSc (N910) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc • Maritime Studies (J601) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc • Nautical Science (J600) 3FT/4SW • Small Craft Technology (H520) 3FT Hon BEng • Small Craft Technology (H524) 4FT Hon MEng Hon BSc • Nautical Science (J615) 3SW Fdg FdSc • Coastal Zone and Marine Hon BSc • Customised Programme - (Marine University of Plymouth 2FT/3FT/4SW Dip/Hon BA/BSc • Applied Marine Sport Science (C160) 3FT/4FT Ord/Deg BSc (CJ69) 3FT Hon BSc • Civil and Coastal Engineering (H251) 5SW Hon MEng Newcastle University • Marine Biology (C161) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Engineering (H501) 4FT Hon MEng • Marine Engineering (H504) 3FT Hon BEng • Marine Environmental Engineering (HH23) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Technology with Fdg (4 years) (J615) 4FT Hon BEng • Marine Technology with Fdg (5 years) (J616) 5FT Hon MEng •M arine Studies (Navigation) (J615) 3FT Hon BSc Hon BEng •M aritime Business and Logistics (NJ19) 3FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business and Maritime Law (NM12) 3FT Hon BSc and Freshwater Biology) (Y001) • Marine and Freshwater Biology (JN68) 3FT Hon BSc •M arine Technology (J610) 3FT/4SW Pembrokeshire College Environment Studies (F851) 3FT Napier University, Edinburgh •M arine Studies (Merchant Shipping) • Civil and Coastal Engineering (H255) 3FT Hon BEng • Civil and Coastal Engineering (H256) 3FT Hon BSc • Environmental Science (Marine Conservation) (F710) 3FT Hon BSc • International Logistics with Business •M aritime Business with German (N1RF) 3FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business with Modern Languages (N1RX) 3FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business with Navigation (N1J6) 3FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business with Spanish (N1RK) 3FT Hon BSc •N autical Science (J607) 2FT Fdg FdSc •O cean Exploration (F702) 3FT Hon BSc • Ocean Science (F700) 3FT Hon BSc •S hipping and Logistics (N850) 1FT Hon BSc •S urf Science and Technology (C6J6) 3FT Hon BSc • Naval Architecture (H502) 3FT Hon BEng • Naval Architecture (H503) 4FT Hon MEng 64 | MARITIME University of Portsmouth • Marine Biology (C160) 3FT Hon BSc •M arine Biology with Polluted COURSE LISTINGS Ecosystems (C1F8) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Environmental Science (F912) 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Environmental Science Extended (F919) 4FT Hon BSc • Marine Sports Technology (J610) 3FT/4SW Hon BSc Hon MSci • Mechanical Engineering/Naval Engineering (HH35) 4FT Hon MEng • Ship Science (J640) 3FT Hon BEng • Ship Science/Advanced Materials (J644) 4FT Hon MEng • Ship Science/Engineering Management (JN62) 4FT Hon MEng Queen Mary, University of London • Marine and Freshwater Biology (C162) 3FT Hon BSc • Ship Science/Inter-disciplinary (J641) 4FT Hon MEng • Ship Science/Naval Architecture (J642) 4FT Hon MEng Queen’s University Belfast • Marine Biology (C160) 3FT Hon BSc • Ship Science/Naval Engineering (H500) 4FT Hon MEng • Ship Science/Yacht and Small Craft University of Southampton • Engineering with Fdg - (Ship Science) (H008) 4FT/5FT Hon BEng/MEng •Geology with Marine Biology (F6C1) (J643) 4FT Hon MEng • Yacht and Powercraft Design (H520) 3FT Hon BEng • Yacht and Powercraft Design (with Fdg) (H528) 4FT Hon BEng 3FT Hon BSc • Marine Biology with Oceanography (F7C1) 3FT Hon BSc • Master of Marine Biology (F703) 4FT •G eography with Marine Studies (with foundation) (F8JP) 4FT Hon BSc •G eography with Marine Studies with Lang Fdg (F8F7) 4FT Hon BSc •M arine Engineering (H500) 3SW Fdg FdEng •M arine Operations (J610) 3SW Fdg FdSc •M aritime Business (N900) 3FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business (N902) 4SW Hon BSc •M aritime Business (Fdg) (N901) 4FT Hon BSc •M aritime Business (Fdg) (N903) 5SW Hon BSc •M aritime Business with Language Fdg (N9Q3) 4FT Hon BSc •S hip & Port Management with Lang Fdg (J6QH) 4FT Hon BSc Southampton Solent University • Geography with Marine Studies (F8J6) 3FT Hon BSc •S hip and Port Management (J693) 3FT Hon BSc •S hip and Port Management (J695) MARITIME | 65 COURSE LISTINGS 4SW Hon BSc • Ship and Port Management (with Fdg) (J696) 5SW Hon BSc South Devon College • Yacht Operations (J610) 2FT Fdg FdSc • Ship and Port Management (with Fdg) (J694) 4FT Hon BSc • Shipping & Marine Environment with Lang Fdg (J6QJ) 4FT Hon BSc • Shipping and Marine Environment (J601) 4SW Hon BSc • Shipping and Marine Environment (J602) 3FT Hon BSc • Shipping and Marine Environment (with Fdg) (J603) 5SW Hon BSc • Shipping and Marine Environment •N aval Architecture with Small Craft Engineering (H520) 4FT Hon BEng •N aval Architecture with Small Craft Engineering (H521) 5FT Hon MEng South Tyneside College • Marine Engineering (006J) 3SW •N aval Architecture(g) (H500) 5FT Ord MEng HND • Marine Engineering (J600) 3SW/4SW Ord/Hon BSc • Marine Operations (J690) 3FT Deg BSc University Campus Suffolk •C oastal Conservation & Environmental Man(Lvl 3) (F790) 1FT Hon • Marine Operations (J691) 3SW Fdg FdSc Swansea University • Nautical Science (016J) 3SW HND • Marine Biology (C160) 3FT Hon BSc The University of Stirling Swansea Metropolitan University • Marine Biology (C160) 4FT Hon BSc •L eisure (Marine and Watersports) (with Fdg) (J605) 4FT Hon BSc • Yacht and Powercraft Design (H520) 3FT Hon BEng • Yacht and Powercraft Design (with Fdg) (H528) 4FT Hon BEng • Yacht and Powercraft Design with Management (N870) 3FT Hon BA The University of Strathclyde • Naval Architecture and Marine Lang Fdn Year (H5Q3) 4FT Hon Engineering (g) (HJ56) 5FT Hon BEng MEng • Yacht Production and Surveying (HH52) 3FT Hon BEng • Yacht Production and Surveying (with Fdg) (HH5F) 4FT Hon BEng • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (g) (JH65) 4FT Hon BEng • Naval Architecture with Ocean Engineering (H512) 4FT Hon BEng University of St Andrews • Marine Biology (C167) 4FT Hon BSc 66 | MARITIME • Naval Architecture with Ocean Engineering (H513) 5FT Hon MEng University of Ulster • Marine Science (F710) 3FT Hon BSc University College London •N aval Architecture and Marine Engineering (HJ56) 3FT Hon BEng •N aval Architecture and Marine Engineering (HJ5P) 4FT Hon MEng Published by Sugar Media Ltd, Studio 4 Hiltongrove, 14 Southgate Road, London N1 3LY Tel: 020 7407 7747 Fax: 020 7407 6800 Email: isabel@sugarmedia.co.uk www.sugarmedia.co.uk Publishers: Ian Thomas, Isabel Appio & Adam Hayes Business Development Director: Darren Waite Senior Sales Executive: Gurpreet Kundi & Bridget Rodricks Editorial Assistant: Jonathan Williams jonathanw@sugarmedia.co.uk Art Editor: Jon-Paul Daly design@sugarmedia.co.uk Senior Designer: John Blanco web@sugarmedia.co.uk Please recycle this publication. •Our seas are vital to trade, energy, defence, leisure and the environment •The UK maritime sector makes a major contribution to our economy and quality of life •Our maritime industries are modern and high-tech and offer excellent career opportunities www.seavisionuk.org Thinking of a career at sea? The Trinity House Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme offers you training for a seagoing career as a deck, engineering or electro-technical officer in a variety of ships operating around the world. For further information go to www.trinityhousetraining.org or email enquiries@trinityhousetraining.org Or write to: Commodore David Squire CB RFA, Director Trinity House Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme Trinity House, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DH