Starting A Career In The Marine Industry
Name: Thomas McGinn
Position: Able Seaman
Site: Marine Base, Liverpool
How long have you worked for Briggs Marine?
I’ve worked for Briggs Marine for five months and I am thoroughly enjoying it so far.
What does your day to day role entail?
I start everyday with boat checks, which entails checking the engines and navigation equipment to make sure everything is in working order. If I have time before the first run, I’ll give the boat a thorough clean down. When on runs it’s my job to work the deck and keep the log up to date. This involves rope handling, assisting in the boarding operation and making sure the passengers are safe at all times.
What challenges do you face in your role?
I have never worked on such a large vessel before so learning all about the pilot boarding arrangements was new for me. The vessel also has bigger engines and I had to become familiar with everything pretty quickly, but the team have been really supportive during this process and I am still learning new things every day.
What do you enjoy about your work?
I love everything about the job, I consider myself very lucky to be able to do what I do. Not many people have this opportunity, so I am really fortunate and generally enjoy my working day from start to finish.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
I spend time volunteering with the RNLI crew. As part of the boat crew I get to take part in life saving exercises and gain valuable skills that I can bring back to my work.
