Richard Brooks, Chief Mate on the Sand Falcon, recently celebrated 25 years working for the company and we asked him a little more about his life on the ocean… 

I started my sea career in 1980. Having just moved from the West Midlands down to Portland Dorset I needed to gain employment of some sort. I remember walking down Weymouth Harbour asking any guys on fishing vessels whether there were any jobs going.  Luckily, I was pointed in the direction of a 46 ft crab fishing boat. I enquired if there was a job going and the Skipper looked at me and said: “What do you know about fishing?” “Err, nothing,” I replied, I was only 16 years old at this time. “Well Ok then, jump aboard, we sail in 10 minutes,” instructed the Skipper.

So, there I was on this Crab Potter sailing out of Weymouth Harbour thinking to myself: “What have I done, mums going to kill me?” 

I spent two years in the fishing industry and fully enjoyed it. I knew this was the life for me at sea.

I was fortunately offered a job with the ‘Ministry of Defence’ (MoD) in 1982 working in Portland Naval Base Dockyard aboard coastal towing tugs and various other vessels the MoD operated. The MoD were the main employers in the area at the time and career development was second to none, so I jumped at the offer.

In July 1982 I volunteered to go to the Falklands during the conflict to relieve the crew of the RMAS Typhoon which was an ocean going tug; she was also the very first vessel to sail from the UK to the Falklands, but was the last one to arrive as the main Task Force eventually sailed past at 28+ Knots. This was an experience that I will never forget and I am immensely proud to have served during this terrible time. Several years later it was deemed that our efforts during the conflict should be recognised and was duly awarded the “South Atlantic Medal”.

I stayed with the MoD for 13 years and worked my way through the ranks. In 1992 I gained my first Certificate of Competence. In 1995 I took redundancy from the MoD due to the closure of Portland Naval Base.

I then joined Southcoast Shipping Company and joined the Sand Wader in October 1995 as 2^nd Mate, one year later I was promoted to Chief Mate. I am currently Chief Mate aboard the Sand Falcon, and during my time I have worked on most of the company vessels past and present.

Career to date: South Coast Shipping, Readymix Concrete RMC & CEMEX Marine

1995 / 1998 – Sand Wader 2^nd Mate and Chief Mate

1999 – Sand Serin: Chief Mate (3 months)

1999 – Sand Kestrel: Chief Mate (6 months)

1999 / 2012 – Sand Heron: Chief Mate

2012 / 2014 – Sand Falcon: Chief Mate

2014 – Sand Fulmar: Chief Mate (3 months)

2014 / Present – Sand Falcon: Chief Mate