Charting success at sea with Shetland’s naval cadets

UHI Shetland's Merchant Navy Officer Cadet Programme combines academic study with vital hands-on experience – fully equipping students for diverse maritime careers.

Tommy Haldon and Michael Poleson are engineering cadets charting a course toward becoming Chief Engineers. Both have embraced the unique opportunities their maritime training in Shetland has offered.

Tommy has been particularly lucky with his placement at Northern Marine Management, as he’s had the opportunity to travel the world.

He says: "In my first phase, I flew to Spain. I joined my ship in Spain, and we did a bit of a round-the-world trip. We went to America and then through the Panama Canal up to South Korea and Japan, and then down to Australia. And I signed off in Tokyo and got two nights there and just got to see a bit of the city."

The journey across the equator was a standout moment for Tommy. He recalls, "When you pass the equator you skip a day. So it goes from Wednesday back to Friday. And they do a big ceremony for people that do it for the first time. You get covered in oil and have fish thrown over you and stuff. And a lot of people shave their head when they do it. It's like a little ceremony on the ship. So that was exciting."

Facing the high seas at a young age comes with challenges, but Tommy views these as part of the adventurous life at sea.

He explains, "It’s hard to do something so big at a young age, but everyone on that ship is on the same boat. They have no one to speak to. They're all on their own. So you just make friends with everyone."

Engineering cadet Michael Poleson has had his share of adventures with Tidewater, an offshore supply company. His travels have taken him from Aberdeen to the coast of Cyprus.

He explains: "I was based in Aberdeen, usually just in the North Sea, but we got a contract with Total. So we went up to Norway to pick up pipes and then travelled to Cyprus just off the Lebanon coast for a new rig."

A few of the cohort of engineering students are moving to Glasgow next year to get their HND in Marine Engineering. From 2024-25 this option will be available at UHI, a move unanimously welcomed by the cadets.

The group have mixed feelings about moving to Glasgow.

Tommy says: "It’ll be good to get that little uni lifestyle bit of it, but I'd rather be at home here. Just because it's easier. It's close by [to my home], a 15-minute drive every day. And I don't have to pay for accommodation."

Deck cadets Liam Slater and Michael Robertson are following a career path that could end up with them captaining a ship. For Michael, the allure of a career at sea comes from the adventures it offers. He says: "I've made memories on boats. Going to different places, experiencing different things and learning new life skills. And just meeting new friends."

Liam and Michael have spent the morning with their classmates, working with a state-of-the art- simulator. Liam explains how the training tool works.

"You can really put in any type of ship and 'go' pretty much anywhere in the world really. You get a variety of different things you can try and then you can have day or night, different visibility, different weather conditions and tides as well. They've just been upgraded as well."

The deck cadets are optimistic about the myriad career paths open to them. Liam says: "Well, there’s lots of choices. Inter-island ferries, NorthLink ferries. And then there's the salmon fishing. And now there's the North Sea as well – gas and renewables."

Michael adds: "I think you can pretty much go anywhere because you get an unlimited ticket. You can go into, like, headhunting websites. Just put in your name and they'll come to you."

The support from their lecturers is another cornerstone of their training. As exam times approach, the cadets share that one lecturer even offers extra classes on Saturday mornings, underscoring the commitment to student success.

Through academic study, practical experience, and a supportive learning environment, Shetland’s sea cadetship program does more than just teach maritime skills. It launches students into a lifelong adventure across the world’s seas, well-prepared to navigate the vast opportunities of the maritime industry, and grounded in the maritime heritage that only Shetland can offer.

This rich blend of tradition, adventure, and education makes Shetland an exceptional place for aspiring seafarers to start their careers.