Merchant Navy officer cadet Sam Bailey has embarked on a month-long placement at Wightlink to learn more about life at sea.
The 22-year-old from Romsey is joining crews on the Portsmouth-Fishbourne route to gain first hand experience of the ferry company’s service between the mainland and the Isle of Wight.
During his time at Wightlink, Sam will also sail to Falmouth on board its flagship Victoria of Wight for dry-docking and refit at the A&P shipyard.
After learning to sail dinghies as a boy, Sam took a job as a deckhand on superyachts in the Mediterranean. Sam explains:
“I got talking to the officers on board and found out about careers in the Merchant Navy. It looked like being a great life with lots of opportunities of travel, combining classroom study with several placements on ships.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about an officer’s job in the busy waters of the Solent at Wightlink.”
Sam is now nearing the end of his 3-and-a-half year cadetship with Chiltern Maritime at Warsash Maritime Academy. Up to now, he’s spent time on a container ship in the Atlantic, a cruise ship in the Caribbean, a fisheries protection vessel and a windfarm supply ship. Experience on a busy Wightlink ferry loading and unloading vehicles every 40 minutes will give him fresh insights into the varied world of merchant shipping.
Sam adds:
“My ambition is to work towards becoming a Captain after gaining more sea time. I would recommend a career in the Merchant Navy to anyone wanting an interesting and worthwhile job with plenty of travel.”
Sam is the second cadet to join Wightlink in recent years. Jon-James Hulford-Funnell from the Isle of Wight spent 2 months with the company in 2020.
Chiltern Maritime Operations Manager Stuart Benge says:
“We are delighted to be involved with the new cadet onboard training programme with Wightlink. The entire Wightlink team have been really welcoming, with Jon-James and Sam gaining valuable training and skills at sea including during the recent dry docks. Our cadets are fortunate to train with different companies and industries from tankers to cruise ships, adding Wightlink will provide even more opportunities for our trainees.”
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield adds:
“We at Wightlink are pleased to help educate the next generation of professional mariners by offering placement opportunities for cadets through Chiltern Maritime. The Merchant Navy offers a wide range of challenging and rewarding careers for young men and women.”
Slow news day on the Island I see
What a W….er you are. I bet you are on the rock and roll.
Victoria of Wight is already in Falmouth alongside Red Osprey
Sam, if they offer to show you the golden rivet, refuse! 😀
You can do your apprenticeship but then the headache is getting a junior officers job at sea as most companies now only have 3rd world nationals except for RfA.