Claudia Adams is a Deck Cadet on board our Cemex Go Innovation. Claudia has shared a blog post with us:

I am a 21-year-old Deck Cadet in my fourth phase, sponsored by the Maritime Educational Foundation and managed by Safe Ship Training Group. With these companies I have been able to experience a variety of sea time on different vessels and have been able to experience many different industries within the Merchant Navy. Thus far in my cadetship I have worked on Seajacks Kraken (self-propelled Jack up vessel), Princess Cruises, Apex (escort tug) and I’m currently working on the Cemex Go Innovation (trail suction hopper dredger).

Having the opportunity to experience the coastal aggregate industry has been very interesting and so far I have really enjoyed my time onboard. I will be working on here for four months until I go back to college to finish my studies, and I have been here for almost a month. The experience is very different to my previous vessels, and I have been very impressed by the safety culture onboard. As the vessel is a new build all the systems are very modern, and I have really enjoyed using the integrated navigation system. Being able to familiarise myself with the ECDIS will also allow me to gain some experience with the system before I return to college to complete the NAEST course.

The crew has been very welcoming and are very happy to help me work through my Training Record Book. I have been able to do a lot of watchkeeping, steering the ship, leading drills, and practice handing over watches all under supervision. Because I am being given a degree of responsibility onboard, it is helping me build my confidence, and I believe it is going to prepare me to become a proficient officer once I qualify.