Careers At Sea

Alistair


Age: 28


Current Position: 3rd Engineer


Company: GulfMark


I first found out about the Merchant Navy when reading a newspaper article about it in The Shetland Times. The prospects of a good career, the chance to study and great wages are what really made me want to pursue a career at sea.

So I chose to embark on a cadetship called 2nd Engineer Unlimited. It appealed to me ultimately because it’s a challenging job involving a lot of problem solving, which is something I really enjoy. Since then I’ve sailed on Emergency Response and Rescue, Platform Supply and Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels.

The most rewarding part of my Merchant Navy career so far has been when I’ve passed exams and progressed in my role. The most challenging bit has been the North Sea weather. And the best experience? That has to be winning the Chief Engineer’s quiz night.


My family are proud of my choice to follow a career at sea. But my friends aren’t too sure of what I do. The best way to sum it up is that we work hard and play hard.