Opening doors to life in the Merchant Navy

City of Glasgow College welcomed aspiring seafarers to its annual Merchant Navy Open Day.

The event is one of the largest of its kind held across the UK and was held as a number of cadets formally graduated as officers and received their epaulettes.

Held at the college’s Riverside campus, the Open Day offered a vital insight into careers available in the maritime industry, as well as the training and education needed to qualify in navigation, engineering and electrical, or as a ship’s officer in the Merchant Navy.

Roy Gardner, Vice Principal, Corporate Development & Innovation, City of Glasgow College, said: “Our Merchant Navy Open Day provides potential students with the unique opportunity to see our world-leading campus, first-hand, and to talk with some of the people who work here.

“Whether they want to talk to members of staff, ask questions of a shipping company they’re interested in, or just want to see what life at City of Glasgow College is like – there’s no substitute for coming to one of our Open Days.

“These events have an excellent success record and we look forward to welcoming back many of those who attended as prospective students.”

Lee Clarke, Cadet Training Manager with V.Ships (UK), said: “For us, the Open Day events are important as we want to get the message out that the Merchant Navy is a career for life. We are looking for youngsters to join us, and it is a fully sponsored course. It is a great life which starts here at City of Glasgow College. It is vitally important that we open doors so prospective students can see what we do and how we do it, and also for parents to come and see what their children are getting into.”

Exhibiting this year were Anglo Eastern, Ship Safe training group, Clyde Marine, Royal Navy Reserve, Royal fleet Auxiliary, Royal Navy, Stream Marine, AW Crewing, Chiltern Maritime, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruises. In addition, both TS Glasgow (Sea Cadets) and Women into Maritime were in attendance as well as staff from City of Glasgow College’s Nautical and Engineering faculties.

A highlight was the ‘mad science lab’ which showcased experiments used in Engineering and Nautical sciences, and wowed attendees with demonstrations of creating clouds in jars and showing ship stability.