Richard

Most of the education offered by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, embraces those already in the shipping industry. They work in shipbroking offices, in port agency or in companies on the fringe of the maritime world.

The Education Trust Fund has gone further than that by sponsoring someone working at the coalface of shipping. He is a cadet working aboard ships. The cadet, who has just completed his indentures and has passed his Class 3 certificate of competency, is Richard, aged 20 and is now eligible to perform the duties of a watch keeping officer on board ocean-going ships.

He was attracted to the sea from an early age. As a keen sailor and member of his local sea cadet group he had previously gained an RYA Commercial Masters Coastal License and during a 2 month cruise around the Cape of Good Hope, he got a taste for life at sea and a career in the Merchant Navy beckoned.

All these tasks he was busy learning during his three-year cadetship or apprenticeship. During this time he served on cargo ships, including one that carried bananas from the West Indies to Europe. He also served on board a passenger ship performing cruises around the Scottish Islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides and up to the North of Norway. Another spell was spent on a ferry between England and Ireland.

He is able to stand a watch on the bridge for eight hours a day, usually from 0800 to 1200 and 2000 to midnight. He is capable of navigating the ship, making course alterations and keeping the Master informed of any unforeseen problems. He is usually posted on the afterdeck to oversee the mooring and unmooring of the ship when arriving or departing its berth.