Student Success Story
Why a successful Chief Engineer who studied at WMA decided to join the Merchant Navy
Many people have asked me over the 9 years of my career why I decided to join the Merchant Navy. It is a question I find very hard to answer as I really don't have any idea. I'm the first in my family to take a job remotely similar to this. However, it was a good decision.
Clyde Marine Training offered me sponsorship by Northern Marine Management. So at the tender age of 16 years I left home (hooray) and started my cadetship. That was in 1997 and I have stayed with Northern Marine Management ever since.
I joined my first ship in Pembroke Dock and sailed straight into Swansea dock for repairs. Apart from a P&O trip organised by our college lecturer, I had never been in a ship's engine room and now I found myself straight in the deep end, pulling my first Main Engine Unit for a cylinder liner change.
My next vessel was the SS Stena Queen a 458000dwt steam turbine driven oil tanker. At the time, she was the 8th biggest vessel afloat.
After doing my 3 year cadetship I left Warsash Maritime Academy (WMA) in 2000 with an NVQ in Merchant Vessel Engineering, a BTEC HND in Marine Engineering and a combined steam and motor OOW Certificate of Competency.
Since then I have been sailing on Oil and Chemical Tankers including a DP Shuttle Tanker, with the occasional spell back at Warsash for some continuing professional development, such as Steam and Motor Seconds, Motor Chiefs and other short courses.
I have just accepted my first position as Chief Engineer on a new build Chemical/Oil product tanker with Northern Marine Management at 26 years old. I am looking forward to the new challenges this will bring.
Not only did I start and develop my career at WMA but I also met some of my closest friends there and I am still in contact with many of them, even though we live all over the country and even all over the world including Germany and Australia.
So what is the answer to my question? Why I decided to join the Merchant Navy?
Because I love engineering and I am ambitious. With that combination, a bit of hard work and determination you can do anything.