I have always wanted to become a marine pilot
I have always wanted to become a marine pilot
Since becoming a teenager I have always wanted to become a marine pilot. I was lucky enough to witness pilotage through a family friend who was a pilot at the time and experience harbour towage through the Sea Cadets. Since boarding my first ship “River Blyth” with the family friend I was hooked and asked how do I become a pilot. He said I needed to go to sea… The rest is history.
I was sponsored by British shipping company, James Fisher PLC
I studied at Fleetwood Nautical College for my OOW, sponsored by the British shipping company, James Fisher PLC during 2001 to 2003. I continued my CoC training at Warsash Maritime College for Chief Mates in 2006/07 and returned to Fleetwood in 2010 for my Master Unlimited.
The facilities at Fleetwood were second to none. The bridge simulator was state of the art at the time and the Offshore Training centre was, and still is, an industry leader in sea survival and other short courses.
In addition I also studied at HMS Collingwood through the Royal Navy and gained my Fleet Navigator Officer (FNO) in 2009. Other warfare courses where attended to throughout my training period in the RFA between 2004 and 2012.
Whilst training I enjoyed the people I worked with and the wealth of knowledge available.
I now have several qualifications
I’m qualified as Master Mariner Unlimited, with RN FNO and other warfare qualifications, and Port of London Authority Class 1 Pilot license.
I trained in UK waters, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean
My initial training was on small coastal tankers, before moving to the RFA where we had Tankers, a Hospital Ship and Landing Ship Docks. These operated world wide but mainly in the UK waters, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
My time at sea was varied with commercial trade between European ports on tankers and then moving to warfare, disaster relief, counter piracy operations and security patrols.
At sea I enjoyed gaining the skills “doing the job” and again the people I worked with.
Travel was always going to be a big part of going to sea
The travel was always going to be a big part of going to sea. The skills gained to fulfil my appetite to learn and a life style and sense of humour which only people who have been to see fully understand. Its far more than a job.
Now as a pilot I enjoy the navigation. I’m driving and parking the biggest ships that transit the seas and the largest moving objects on the planet.
I hope to still be piloting in 10 years. I’m lucky, I have youth on my side. From there, Harbour Master, consultancy work and training new recruits are my priorities.
Start Your Career
Our experienced team of recruitment and training officers can provide you with help and guidance on roles and vacancies – and support in applying for sponsorship.
Boston Putford Offshore Safety Ltd
Operates standby support vessels.
Careers at sea with Boston Putford Offshore Safety Ltd.
Based:
Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Support Vessels in both the North Sea and other areas providing Emergency Response, Supply and Underwater Exploration/Construction services for the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Ship Types Operated:
Standby
Company website:
www.bostonputford.com
Britannia Aggregates Ltd
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Train as a deck cadet with Britannia Aggregates Ltd.
Based:
Northfleet, Kent.
Profile:
Operates a Marine Aggregate Dredger engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
www.brett.co.uk
CEMEX Marine Ltd
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
CEMEX, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Southampton, Hampshire.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
www.cemex.co.uk
CMA-CGM Ltd
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
.
Based:
London, UK.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of container vessels on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Container
Company website:
www.cma-cgm.com
Alcedo Shipping Ltd
Operates bulk carriers worldwide.
Alcedo Shipping Ltd.
Based:
London.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Bulk Carriers on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Bulk Carriers
Company website:
https://www.alcedoshipping.co.uk
Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd
Operates container vessels for cargo transportation.
Deck Cadet Training with Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd.
Based:
London.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of container vessels on worldwide routes transporting a wide variety of cargoes.
Ship Types Operated:
Container
Company website:
www.evergreen-marine.co.uk
Gardline Ltd
Operates survey and research vessels.
Deck and engineer cadet training with Gardline Ltd.
Based:
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Profile:
Best in class provider of Marine Geophysical, Geotechnical and Environmental Surveys.
Ship Types Operated:
Survey
Company website:
www.gardline.com
Global Marine Systems Ltd
Operates surface and sub-sea vessels for installation and maintenance of submarine cables.
Seafarer officer training with Global Marine Systems Ltd.
Based:
Chelmsford, Essex.
Profile:
Global Marine Systems Limited, an independent marine engineering company, has been in business for well over 150 years and continues to be the pre-eminent provider of submarine cable installation and maintenance services in the world. Operating the world's largest fleet of cable ships and sub-sea vehicles, it is a market leader in marine cable installation and maintenance for telecommunications, as well as scientific research, oil, gas, utilities and the renewable energy sector. Global Marine is headquartered in the United Kingdom with regional offices in the United States and Asia.
Ship Types Operated:
Cable Repair
Company website:
www.globalmarine.group
Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Southampton, Hampshire.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
www.heidelbergcement.com
John H. Whitaker (Holdings) Ltd
Operates oil tankers.
Careers at Sea with John H. Whitaker (Tankers) Ltd.
Based:
Hull, North Humberside.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of oil tankers in the European area transporting fuel and oil products for ships and storage depots.
Ship Types Operated:
Tankers
Company website:
www.whitakertankers.com
Saga Shipping Ltd
Operates cruise ships.
Saga Shipping Ltd, an SSTG Member Company for 15 years.
Based:
Folkestone, Kent.
Profile:
This company operates the following types of vessel. Click on vessel for more information:
Ship Types Operated:
Cruise
Company website:
www.saga.co.uk
Tarmac Marine Ltd
Operates aggregate mining vessels extracting sand and gravel.
Tarmac Marine Ltd, trains Deck and Engineer Cadet with SSTG.
Based:
Chichester, West Sussex.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of Marine Aggregate Dredgers engaged in the mining of sand and gravel from the sea bed in licensed areas of the open sea around the UK & the Continent of Europe for delivery to UK and other European ports.
Ship Types Operated:
Aggregate Mining Vessels
Company website:
www.tarmac.com
North Star Shipping (Aberdeen) Ltd
Operates support vessels for offshore oil and gas exploration.
North Star Shipping (Aberdeen) Ltd, an SSTG Member for 10 years.
Based:
Aberdeen.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of support vessels in both the North Sea and other areas providing emergency response, supply and underwater exploration / construction services for the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Ship Types Operated:
Standby
Company website:
www.northstarshipping.co.uk
P & O Ferries Ltd
Operates vehicle and passenger ferries.
P & O Ferries Ltd, trains Merchant Navy Seafarers with SSTG.
Based:
Dover, Kent.
Profile:
Operates a fleet of large Roll-on Roll-off Vessels between the UK and ports in Europe transporting passengers, their cars, and freight vehicles.
Ship Types Operated:
Ferries
Company website:
www.poferries.com
Seajacks UK Ltd.
Operates specialist jack-up vessels for offshore wind industry.
Seajacks UK Ltd, trains Merchant Navy seafarers with SSTG.
Based:
Great Yarmouth, UK.
Profile:
Seajacks UK are an East Anglian based offshore installation company committed to building the world’s most advanced and versatile fleet of self-propelled jack-up vessels equipped to service the demands of the offshore wind industry. Our on and offshore crews work in full conjunction with all of our clients, looking to provide the most cost-effective solutions in the safest environments possible.
Seajacks has a fleet of 5 GustoMSC designed vessels, all capable of installing and maintaining offshore wind farms in harsh conditions. Seajacks fleet includes; Seajacks Kraken, Seajacks Leviathan, Seajacks Hydra, Seajacks Zaratan and Seajacks Scylla.
Seajacks utilise DP2 positioning for fast and efficient rig moves, with no need for tugs means there is year round operating ability in the harsh conditions of the Southern North Sea. The DP2 systems make all of the vessels fully capable of driving their four legs into the seabed, providing them with a steady platform and ensuring they remain uncompromised by the conditions of the sea below.
Seajacks Scylla is equipped with a 1500t leg-encircling crane, incorporate useable deck space of up to 5000m², and has 8000t of available variable load. Sailing at speeds of 12 knots or over, Scylla is outfitted with 105m long legs that have the ability to install components in water depths of up to 65m.
Ship Types Operated:
Jack-up
Company website:
www.seajacks.com
CldN RoRo Ltd.
Operates freight vessels for Irish Sea crossings.
CldN RoRo Ltd, trains ETO Officer cadets with SSTG.
Based:
Heysham, Lancashire.
Profile:
As a UK cadet you will complete your sea service whilst under training on the UK based vessels serving between the UK and Ireland. The company has a fleet of modern vessels concentrating on the freight market.
Ship Types Operated:
Ferries
Company website:
www.cldn.com
WISTA International
Based:
Profile:
International networking organisation whose mission is to attract and support women, at the management level.
WISTA are pleased to announce a joint venture initiative with the Maritime Educational Foundation for the sponsorship of up to three candidates to train and qualify as Merchant Navy Officers commencing in September 2024.
The training will involve studying at one of the specialist nautical colleges in the UK, and completing sea service on a range of ship types. The training will follow one of the established programmes and lead to a degree level-based qualification in addition to all the necessary professional training.
The available sponsorship will include all tuition fees paid, the cost of training at sea and a generous allowance paid throughout the training.
Successful candidates will need to support the aims and objectives of WISTA Intentional. Attendance at a small number of WISTA events interspersed throughout the training will be required to promote this initiative to the current membership and assist in the promotion that this opportunity will provide candidates in future years.
Interested candidates should apply here at SSTG in the first instance quoting WISTA as your choice of sponsor.
Company website:
www.wistainternational.com
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Tel: +44 (0) 1634 820 820
E-mail: recruitment@sstg.org
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