Two top trainees honoured at ceremony
There was twice the
cause for celebration as two deserving officers were named as Officer Trainee
of the Year by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The
challenges presented by Covid 19 meant that the award ceremony planned for 2020
was delayed, so the top trainees of 2020 and 2021 received their awards at the
UK Chamber of Shipping Annual Dinner on Monday 7 February at JW Marriott Hotel,
London.
Gregor Connor, from Glasgow, was named as Maritime & Coastguard Agency Officer Trainee of the Year 2020 after being nominated by the City of Glasgow College, along with his sponsoring company the Ship Safe Training Group Ltd. and P&O Ferries.
The award
was collected on his behalf as Gregor, who has been working for P&O Ferries
as a fourth engineer since January 2021, is currently at sea.
Gregor was inspired
to join the maritime industry after seeing friends and family working at sea
and, despite not having experience with either engines or ships, put his all
into learning everything he could about the industry.
He said:
“There’s a piece of advice I was given which has always stuck with me – ‘become
passionate about it and it becomes easier to learn’.”
He added
that he was delighted to have been nominated and then chosen for the award,
saying: “It is great to be recognised
and rewarded for the efforts and hard work I have put in throughout my
cadetship. Winning the MCA Officer Trainee of the Year Award 2020 is not only a
great personal achievement, but is also good for future employment as an indication
of my work ethic.”
Gabriel Verne, an engineer on a private motor yacht, was named as the Maritime & Coastguard Agency Officer Trainee of the Year 2021.
He was
nominated by Warsash Maritime
School, part of Solent University Southampton along with his sponsoring company
Ship Safe Training Group Ltd. and A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S.
Gabriel
was inspired to pursue a career in maritime after moving to the South Coast
from Poland at the age of 12. He said “I spent my teenage years in Bournemouth,
forever changing my attitude towards the sea. I cannot imagine ever being away
from the seaside for any long period of time.”
Although he
spent a few years working in various industries after finishing college, the
draw of the sea was never far away, and he embarked upon an Engineering
Cadetship in September 2018.
Gabriel said: “I wanted to be able to learn a
trade that would enable me to earn a living while travelling the world and
that's exactly what the Merchant Navy offered. I’m now fully qualified to
embark on an amazing adventure that this career brings and hungry for more
experience.”
Speaking
about his nomination and win Gabriel said: “I feel genuine delight and
gratification and it is undoubtedly thanks to the efforts of the lecturers,
close friends and fellow cadets that have enabled me to get to where I am now.
I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me during my college and sea
phases, and also to the
curriculum head at City of Glasgow College, Dhruva Kumar for nominating me for
the Cadet of the Year award and for all his help during my cadetship.
Brian Johnson, Chief
Executive of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, presented the awards.
He said: “It is
such an honour to present these
awards to these two seafarers who are clearly so passionate about what they do.
“Both Gregor
and Gabriel have shown incredible commitment and worked extremely hard and I’m
proud that we’re able to recognise
their dedication through these richly deserved awards.”
Comments
Post a Comment