NAFC students praised for excellent work at prizegiving ceremony

Ten students proudly accepted awards for their academic achieve­ments at the NAFC Marine Centre’s 22nd annual prizegiving last Friday.

In his opening address NAFC director David Gray said he always looked forward to these kinds of celebrations, which were the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication.

The guest of honour at the prizegiving was George Sutherland, former SIC director of ports and harbours and former chairman of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses.

Capt Sutherland said: “It is always a privilege and pleasure to be asked to come and take part in this ceremony. The NAFC is a centre of excellence and has established an international repu­tation within the industry as a first class training provider, with the students being highly sought after. I do hope that the centre can continue to produce the high quality work that it is so well known for.”

The first prize to be awarded was the Forbes Watt Prize for Navi­gation, given to Grant Johnson from Vidlin for his hard work and appli­cation in class, and the excellent examination results which followed.

The next winner was James Arthur Shearer from Whalsay, who won the Jeanette Williamson Prize for Class 2 Fishing (Deck Officer). He first studied at the centre in 2003 as a new entrant fish catching skill seeker, and currently sails on the local fishing boat Tranquillity.

The Bells Nautical Trust Prize for outstanding effort by a deck cadet was won by Adam Thomson from Lerwick.

The Clyde Marine Prize for the best deck cadet sponsored by Clyde Marine was awarded to Ryan Trumpess from Orkney, who was sponsored by Norbulk Shipping through Clyde Marine.

The Northern Lighthouse Board (Deck Cadet) prize was awarded to Jamie Lee Jennings. She has a strong family connection to the sea, being the granddaughter of well-known Shetland/Falklands seafarer Delano Jennings, fondly known as Dinks.

The Nautical Institute Prize for a first year deck cadet was won by Tammy Stewart of Whalsay. His prize was accepted on his behalf by his mother Mary. Tammy started studying at NAFC Marine Centre several years ago as a fish catching skill seeker which he completed successfully, after which he completed a national certificate in engineering.

The Northern Lighthouse Board (Engineer Cadet) prize was awarded to Steven Boyd of Edinburgh.

Orcadian girl Jerry Gibson, from Rousay, who now lives in Lerwick, won the Clyde Marine Training Prize for the companiy’s best sponsored engineering cadet and also won the North Star Shipping Award for outstanding effort by an engineering cadet.

The NAFC Marine Centre Engineering Modern Apprentice of the Year was Christopher Strmsek from Wadbister, who served his apprenticeship with Shetland Islands Council’s infrastructure department.

The final award was the Jim Thomas memorial prize, presented to Magnus Scott from Papa Stour, who works for Blueshell Mussels.