Commence On A Thrilling Sea Career!

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Mfame Editor
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Credit: Xinde Marine News

Cadetship is a great way to start your career at sea and for Gard’s latest sponsored cadet, Harding, it was even more so as she joined the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough for the first sea phase of her cadetship.

Gard-sponsored Cadetship

  • Gard has sponsored a cadet through the Maritime London Officer Cadet Scheme (MLOCS) since 2019.
  • The cadetship is a four-year programme,
  • It involves a combination of classroom learning and sea time onboard a variety of vessels.
    The first Gard-sponsored cadet, Oliver Bailey, successfully completed his training earlier this year, and joined Shetland Islands Ferries as an officer two days after receiving his Certificate of Competency.

Interview Of Harriet Harding

Unlike Tim, who started his cadetship aged 16, you started yours a little older. Can you tell us a bit about your previous career?
I started sailing for fun at the age of 20, after being introduced to it by my partner, who was a keen sailor. Following his passing, I immersed myself in sailing and obtained my Yachtmaster offshore qualification.
I sailed yachts and worked in Knoydart, Scotland, driving boats for a winter. Later, I joined a 1930s 50-meter classic motor yacht, working my way up from deckhand to bosun and cruising the Mediterranean for three years.
My most recent job involved running a seven-boat team for an island regeneration project in Scotland.
Cruising around the Mediterranean sounds like an idyllic life! What made you want to go back to studying?
  • After realizing the limitations of a yachting career and self-funding further courses, I yearned for a deeper understanding of seamanship and greater opportunities at sea.
  • My encounter with cadets from Warsash Maritime Academy enlightened me about the fully funded cadetship, which aligned perfectly with my aspirations. It was the ideal path to advance my career and gain comprehensive expertise in seamanship.

Preparing for the Future

Your first sea phase is on the Royal Research Ship (RRS) Sir David Attenborough. That sounds like a really interesting first ship to work on?

  • I am thrilled to be on this amazing 130-meter long ship, serving as both a mobile science laboratory and logistics vessel for the British Antarctic Survey.
  • There is an abundance of knowledge to acquire here, especially with its unique features, including a moonpool for submersible launches and the use of hydro-treated vegetable oil for the first time.
  • After joining the ship in the Falklands, we sailed back to Rosyth for a 20-day refit.
  • Currently, we are engaged in a two-month equipment testing mission around the north of Scotland. Following this, we’ll have our annual refit before heading back to the Falklands in November, where I’ll be signing off for a well-deserved rest.
And what is life like onboard; I’d imagine it’s a bit different to your standard tanker or bulk carrier?

We are a crew of 45, with space for about a further 40 scientists. We are currently mainly British, with colleagues from Chile, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. At the moment I am one of only two women onboard, the other is my fellow cadet.

But both the Chief Engineer and another engineer of the previous crew were female. The ship itself is really well-equipped for the crew: we have two gyms, a sauna, and the food is amazing.

What are your plans beyond November?
I get a couple of months off and then it’s back to college at Warsash for another year studying. At the end of that I get to spend more time at sea. The cadetship is a four-year program, so I’ve still got a way to go!

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Source: Xinde Marine News