Push to halt fall in young people in marine sector

Ellie will head to the Isle of Wight to study a superyacht cadetship at UKSA

A course is being launched in Guernsey over concerns about the general decline of young people entering the maritime industry.

The island has a rich maritime history and 98% of freight that comes in into the island arrives through St Peter Port and St Sampson Harbour.

Assistant harbour master Kieran Higgs said the aim was to invest in the future by supporting younger people in the island to pursue the industry as a career.

The new apprenticeship course could be ready this September and it was hoped this will lead to full time jobs in the sector, course leaders said.

Fraser Coleman, 20 is a second year marine biology student at the University of Exeter

After studying marine biology at Anglia Ruskin University, Ellie Wilson began her career at Sea Fisheries, where she works as a commercial boatman.

She said: "A couple of years ago I was looking into getting some qualifications and to do your practical - even just your day skipper - is not something you can do over here. You have to either go to Jersey or abroad to somewhere else.

"So I found that really difficult and the way I have got into everything is more just from stepping stones of starting one thing and then going into something else."

She said she planned to leave in September to go to the Isle of Wight to study a superyacht cadetship at UKSA.

Upon completion of the course, she will become a qualified officer of the watch, which means she can be an officer of the watch on boats under 3,000 tonnes.

Mr Higgs said: "I think there is generally a decline in British seafarers globally in the merchant fleet.

"There is also not as many youth coming through various sailing academies and entering into the maritime sector locally and further afield."

Fraser Coleman, 20, is currently studying marine biology at University of Exeter and also works as a temporary marine attendant at Guernsey Ports.

He said: "I don't think there is enough advertising for it because, unless you're really into it, it is not that pushed."

Mr Higgs said that staff do go into schools but he thought more needed to be done to encourage young people into the industry.

He said: "There is probably work for us to do there, attending schools and career days, which we have done and will continue to do to try and increase that. We do get some interest but I would like to see that double.

"It's maybe not the sector that is of particular interest to youth these days and I think we need to change that culture because it is still a very interesting, exciting career.

"And, hopefully, people on the island can appreciate how important this sector is to us."