Over the last few years I have made it my passion in life to find ways of releasing human creativity, thus giving something back to the world. I do this by challenging the norm and seeking opportunity from adverse and non-routine situations and learning what is really possible. While doing so I look for my team’s positive attributes and behavioral resources and help them find solutions for even the most complex of situations.
My marine background extends as far back as my childhood days. My father started out as a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy. I remember as a boy, watching the ships entering and leaving the port of Madang at my harbour front home in Papua New Guinea (PNG) during the ten years I lived there. I was always fascinated by the ships and boats that used to pass by and I often used to draw them. Because my dad was 'in the trade' as a marine surveyor, and later in our time in PNG, a Marine Engineering Superintendent for Lutheran Shipping, my family were privileged to visit (behind the scenes) some of the more prestigious ships that came to Madang. This is how my interest in ships and boats developed.
I first started working in the commercial sector early in 1992. I attained my MCA Boat Master’s License in 1999 and my RYA Offshore Yacht Master two years later in 2001. I enrolled in the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) Officer Of the Watch (OOW) 3000T (Unlimited) NVQ Level 3 course at Plymouth Maritime Training. Unfortunately, I didn't see the course through to attainment of Certificate of Competence. However I feel very fortunate that I was able to sit all of the class room modules and most of the ancillary safety courses, with which I created an opportunity to fully utilize this knowledge in what I do now. Coastal Services (Weymouth) was set up in the same year and since then I have been operating various types of commercial vessels under these licenses, with tug boat operations being my preferred vocation. Most of this work is undertaken in a dual role capacity in terms of deck and machinery watch and monitoring. Since attaining my STCW II/2 Master (Code Vessel) in January 2010, I have continued to promote Coastal Services by freelancing short and long term, acting in various roles, to workboat and passenger boat companies.
