Meet our next generation of seafarers

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8: The next generation of Bermuda’s elite sailors are earning their stripes.

They have a long maritime tradition to live up to.

And pursuing the dream of commanding a ship or becoming chief engineer on board requires commitment, perseverance and skill.

At present, a handful of Bermudian sailors are busy studying in the leafy-green village of Warsash on the south coast of England to make that dream a reality.

Some cadets have already come face to face with piracy on the waves, while others have been involved in major sea rescue operations. Some have travelled through remote waterways in Africa, the Middle East and Australia as part of their maritime qualification courses.

While others are just about to embark on their first Atlantic crossing on board a 3,800-ton container ship. It’s a long and gruelling process for the Bermudian cadets and some do not make it. But the opportunity to achieve their goals is made possible by a joint effort between government bodies and local shipping companies.

The National Training Board and the Department of Marine and Ports work closely with Bermuda International Shipping Ltd, Somers Isles Shipping Ltd, Bermuda Container Line and international companies like Frontline, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management and JR Shipping to provide cadets with placements on their ships and in some cases financial backing for their studies. We met some of the students preparing to continue our maritime traditions.

Maquel Bailey

Maquel Bailey endured a “rollercoaster of emotions” as he worked to gain his maritime qualifications.

He was on the other side of the world on a tanker in China when got word that his father had fallen ill.

Maquel returned to Bermuda to be with his family and had to take a break from his studies. His father passed away some months later but Maquel went back to Warsash Maritime Academy in England to finish his Officer of the Watch qualification. He graduated last November.

The former ferry captain said: “There were definitely times when I wondered whether I would be able to finish the course.

“It was very hard being away from my wife and my two daughters but it was important to get this qualification to further my maritime career.

“It takes a lot of perseverance to get through it.

“Going back to school for me at the age of 27 was a hard decision to take but I am glad I did it now.”

Maquel has been gaining more ‘sea hours’ on the Oleander since he joined the ship in December. He heads back to the UK in March to take his final exams.

He said: “The Warsash course really tested me in all facets of sailing and I got experience working on tankers in Australia, Japan, China and Korea.”

Kristen Greene

He’s just 18 but Kristen Greene is already learning exactly what it feels like to sail the rough seas of the Atlantic on board a container ship.

The teenager is currently on a three-month placement with the Oleander and travels between New Jersey and Bermuda on a weekly basis as the ship brings in food and supplies for the island.

The experience is all part of his Officer of the Watch qualification that he pursuing at Warsash Maritime Academy in the south of England.

He began the four-year extensive course in September 2011 and is hoping to use it as a springboard to becoming a captain later in his career.

Kristen said: “I really started to get interested in a career at sea due to my involvement with the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.

“I did a couple of voyages to the U.S. and Canada and realised that no two days were the same at sea.

“It was exciting and I enjoyed it.

“Working at sea is always a challenge and a major bonus is that you get to see different parts of the world.

“The Oleander experience has taught me new skills and hopefully will help me achieve my goals in the long run.”

Kristen will complete his training on board the Oleander in April and head back to Warsash Maritime Academy to continue his studies.