Maritime Academy students share their aspirations

Meet our next generation of seafarers

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8: Daniel Brangman knew what he wanted to be when he was just six years old.

He was on board a cruise liner with his family when he got the chance to visit the bridge of the ship and hold the helm.

“A big red light went off in my mind and I knew what I wanted to be,” he says.

He’s now 23 and pursuing his sailing dream at Warsash Maritime Academy in the UK.

The CedarBridge student began his Officer of the Watch qualification in January 2011.

His first year has seen him complete three months of classroom studies as well as a tour with the Spirit of Bermuda as second officer.

He said: “It’s been a challenge being away from home but I have learnt a lot too.

“I grew up on the water in Bermuda — so I just love anything to do with the sea.”

Daniel headed back to the UK a few weeks ago to carry on his course. He is due to finish his studies in Warsash in 2014.

He said: “When I complete the course I want to get some more experience
working on cruise ships and tankers around the world. And the ultimate goal is to become a captain.”

Joshua Powell’s maritime training has already seen him involved in a full-scale sea rescue operation.

He was working as a deck cadet on board the Oleander when she came to the aid of the sailing boat Elle last year and plucked four of its crew to safety.

The 19-year-old was given a placement on board the container ship as part of his Officer of the Watch course at Warsash Maritime Academy where he enrolled last January.

His training has also involved spending time at Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre gathering experience as a radio operator.

He said: “The first phase at Warsash was a preparatory course, with subjects like Math for Nautical Science, Ship Knowledge, Navigation and Ship and Port Operations.

“Then I had to go away to sea on board the M/V Oleander.

“I served about five months on board, shadowing the officers, Captain and crew.

“The duties I executed on board varied from general maintenance in holds and on deck, to filling out log books and making weather observations.”

Josh says growing up in Bermuda with family who had a passion for sailing played a big role in his career choice.

He recently returned to Warsash to continue his studies, which he will finish in 2015.

He added: “In the future, I want to graduate from Warsash Maritime Academy as a certified and competent Officer of the Watch. I then want to become a Radio Officer at Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre, and work towards becoming a Senior Radio Officer.”

Rodrico Bean spent most of his childhood helping to bring in the catch with his dad.

But that was a different kettle of fish compared to docking a huge LPG tanker in a Middle Eastern port.

Rodrico only started his Officer of the Watch training in Warsash Maritime Academy in September 2009.

But already he has been to countries as a deck cadet that many of us will never get the chance to visit.

The 25-year-old said: “I always enjoyed helping my dad when I was a kid.

“But I knew I didn’t want to be a fisherman like him.

“I was more interested in the docking and the maneuvering of the big ships. It fascinated me.”

Rodrico got his pilot’s licence in 2007 after completing a training course in Barbados.

During his first two years on the Warsash programme he’s been in the books as much as he’s been at sea.

He said: “I was on an LPG tanker for three months.

“We went all around the Middle East and docked in Saudi Arabia.

“It took a while to adjust to but the experience really taught me a lot about being a professional seaman.”

Rodrico is back studying at Warsash now, but he has his sights firmly mapped out.

“A lot of us at Warsash have set our goals at becoming master of a ship.

“I would like to work on a cruise ship when I finish my studies in 2014 and get more sea experience before coming back to work in Bermuda.”

Vernon Harrison has just finished the first three-month phase of his training at Warsash Maritime Academy in the UK.

The 19-year-old described his time in England, away from family and friends, as ‘an eye-opening experience’.

He has his sights set on more studying and becoming a captain after he gets his Officer of the Watch qualification in January 2015.

The former CedarBridge Academy head boy said: “There has been a lot of reading and a lot of math to begin with.

“We work from 8:30am until 5pm every day but then get the weekend to ourselves.

“We normally go out in to Portsmouth or Southampton at the weekend and see a bit of the countryside.

“There are five Bermudians currently studying in Warsash and it’s good to have those kind of friends around you.”

Vernon has already completed a three-month maritime training course in Canada and he did a four-month placement aboard the Bermuda Islander last summer.

He said: “This is the start of a long journey for me, but the experience I gained while I was on the Bermuda Islander has put me ahead of the game in Warsash.

“I know that I want to be a captain in the future and that will take time and a lot of hard work. At the moment what is important is getting experience on ships across the world to make me a better sailor.”

Vernon is currently waiting to find out what ship he will spend the next three months on.

And he will return to Warsash Maritime College to continue his studies in September.