Nautical students celebrate getting together for graduation

City of Glasgow College held its graduation ceremony for nautical students in person for the first time since 2019.

Observing current Covid-19 protection measures, over [number] Merchant Navy Officers attended the ceremony in Glasgow Cathedral on Thursday 2 September.

The engineering, deck and navigation graduates were congratulated by Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Glasgow College, who said:

“It gave me great pleasure to see our graduates face to face once again, and to congratulate each of them in person. Our college trains almost half of all UK Merchant Navy Officers and each year they take fresh talent, skills and professionalism into the maritime industry.

“Our graduates leave us, not simply as qualified seafarers, but also as key workers in an industry now rightly recognised as essential to keeping vital supplies running. Without the Merchant Navy, 95% of food and other goods would not reach ports or shops, both here and across the world.

“The global pandemic has brought a great many uncertainties. Colleges like ours will, of course, play an important role in our nation’s social and economic recovery. However, much will rely on future generations of skilled workers to help get us back on our feet. Our Class of 2021 are part of that future generation we now look to, and we wish them all the very best.”

This year’s Guest of Honour and key speaker was Brian Johnson, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who said:

“The last 18 months has highlighted to the whole country the importance of maritime trade to the UK and to our way of life. Because of their skills, UK officers have an enviable reputation in shipping and it is fantastic to see the next generation of officers passing out of City of Glasgow College at a time when they will be able to play lead roles in the changes that world shipping will undoubtably go through over the next decades. My congratulations to them all.”

The ceremony, attended by almost 50 graduates, was streamed live via the college’s website and watched by those unable to be there. A total of 249 nautical students graduate as Class of 2021, including Electro-Technical Officers, Marine Engineering Officers and Deck Officers having achieved Diplomas and Certificates in Marine Engineering, Marine Management Engineering, Electro-Technology and Nautical Science.

Dean Harron, who attended the ceremony and graduated with an HND in Marine Electro-Technology, said:

“It was a great surprise to find out I had been awarded the Northern Lighthouse Board Prize for Engineering Cadet of the Year. I am incredibly thankful for being chosen to receive this award.

“The cadetship has been a challenging but very rewarding three years which I have enjoyed thoroughly. I have learned so much, in both the classroom and during my sea phases.

“As an older cadet changing careers, I challenged myself to achieve as much as I possibly could during the cadetship. I could not have done so without the support of City of Glasgow College and Clyde Marine Training, as well as Subsea 7 for supplying me with quality sea time on some of the most advanced vessels in the world.”