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Displaying items by tag: Crew Member

The Isle of Man Steam Packet has promoted Adam Kelso to the rank of Master of the ropax ferry Ben-my-Chree, which has 1,235 freight lane metres and a passenger capacity of 630 passengers.

Adam, born and raised on the Isle of Man, joined the ferry operator in October 2012, fulfilling a life-long dream. He follows in his father's footsteps, who was a Chief Engineer with the company for many years.

His career began with the Steam Packet Company as a Second Mate, having completed studies in Nautical Science at Fleetwood Nautical College. With the company's support, Adam completed his Chief Mate's Ticket, before commencing studies for his Master Mariner certification, in December 2021.

Working on a week on/week off rotation, Adam completed his eight weeks of training on 8 June 2022, and took up his first command earlier this summer.

As Master, Adam has overall responsibility for the safety of life, protection of the vessel, and safety of the environment. He's also responsible for ensuring the vessel complies with international and local regulations.

Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Brian Thomson, commented: 'Adam's achievement will be a great inspiration to anyone considering a career at sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is proud to support such a dedicated and talented team member in achieving his ambitions. We wish Adam many happy years of sailing with the Company.'

Published in Ferry

Operator Stena Line cancelled four of its ferry sailings between Scotland and Northern Ireland after one crew member tested positive for Covid-19.

Its 19:30 BST departure from Cairnryan and 23:30 BST departure from Belfast were cancelled on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the same incident led to the company calling off its 03:45 BST departure from Cairnryan and its 07:30 BST departure from Belfast Harbour.

"We apologise to our passengers for the inconvenience," Stena said.

The company said it had acted in accordance with its "comprehensive safety protocol procedures".

BBC News has more.

Published in Stena Line

Ferry crew member, Scott Kaniewski has been promoted to the rank of Relief Master of the Isle of Man Steam Packet ro-pax Ben-my-Chree which operates between Douglas and Heysham in north-west England.

Kaniewski joined the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 2014 from Global Marine Systems where he worked his way up from Deck Cadet – with responsibility for cable repairs in both shallow and deep water.

In addition Scott's involvement in ship conversions and new builds, all the way up to Third Officer/Junior DPO, Second Officer and then Chief Officer.

Upon his arrival at the Steam Packet Company, Scott worked as a Second Officer and then Chief Officer on board the Ben-My-Chree.

In 2017, the Company supported his application for study leave to gain his Masters Certificate of Competency, and in 2019 he transferred to fast craft Manannan to sail as Chief Officer.

Over the past month Scott has been Master training on the Ben-My-Chree to obtain his Heysham Pilotage Certificate, and on Thursday 12th August he took command as Relief Master of the ro-pax. In the near future he will also be trained as Relief Master on Manannan.

Commenting on the promotion, the company's Managing Director Brian Thomson said: ‘Scott’s progression through the ranks is a perfect illustration of the fantastic career opportunities that are available for those who choose a career at sea.

He added "it is a truly rewarding industry for those who work hard. He is very deserving of this great achievement and we wish him many years of sailing with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.’

Published in Ferry

In the search for a missing Irish Ferries crew member a body of a man has been discovered.

North Wales Police have confirmed that the discovery was made on the shore near Ynys Y Fydlyn in Anglesey on Wednesday morning.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of the missing ferry crew member have been informed.

A police spokesman said: "Shortly after 11am today North Wales Police were contacted by a member of the public reporting the discovery of a body on the shore, near to Ynys Y Fydlyn, Anglesey.

"Police officers, supported by partner agencies, attended the scene and confirmed that the body was that of a deceased male.

Further coverage avaialble from NorthWalesLive here. 

Published in Irish Ferries

Two representative associations of the militiary are seeking financial compensation for troops who are forced to leave their families two weeks prematurely to go into compulsory Covid-19 quarantine prior to deploying on overseas missions.

Meanwhile, the Naval Service has confirmed that it's had to “deep clean” one of its ships after a sailor was confirmed as having the virus.

Both PDForra, which represents enlisted personnel, and RACO, which represents officers, have sought compensation for troops who are having to leave their families two weeks earlier than usual before UN deployment.

PDForra wrote to the Department of Defence saying it believes a special payment is “warranted given the analogous nature of quarantine.” 

For more on what the association said click Irish Examiner here. 

Published in Navy

Howth Yacht Club information

Howth Yacht Club is the largest members sailing club in Ireland, with over 1,700 members. The club welcomes inquiries about membership - see top of this page for contact details.

Howth Yacht Club (HYC) is 125 years old. It operates from its award-winning building overlooking Howth Harbour that houses office, bar, dining, and changing facilities. Apart from the Clubhouse, HYC has a 250-berth marina, two cranes and a boat storage area. In addition. its moorings in the harbour are serviced by launch.

The Club employs up to 31 staff during the summer and is the largest employer in Howth village and has a turnover of €2.2m.

HYC normally provides an annual programme of club racing on a year-round basis as well as hosting a full calendar of International, National and Regional competitive events. It operates a fleet of two large committee boats, 9 RIBs, 5 J80 Sportboats, a J24 and a variety of sailing dinghies that are available for members and training. The Club is also growing its commercial activities afloat using its QUEST sail and power boat training operation while ashore it hosts a wide range of functions each year, including conferences, weddings, parties and the like.

Howth Yacht Club originated as Howth Sailing Club in 1895. In 1968 Howth Sailing Club combined with Howth Motor Yacht Club, which had operated from the West Pier since 1935, to form Howth Yacht Club. The new clubhouse was opened in 1987 with further extensions carried out and more planned for the future including dredging and expanded marina facilities.

HYC caters for sailors of all ages and run sailing courses throughout the year as part of being an Irish Sailing accredited training facility with its own sailing school.

The club has a fully serviced marina with berthing for 250 yachts and HYC is delighted to be able to welcome visitors to this famous and scenic area of Dublin.

New applications for membership are always welcome

Howth Yacht Club FAQs

Howth Yacht Club is one of the most storied in Ireland — celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020 — and has an active club sailing and racing scene to rival those of the Dun Laoghaire Waterfront Clubs on the other side of Dublin Bay.

Howth Yacht Club is based at the harbour of Howth, a suburban coastal village in north Co Dublin on the northern side of the Howth Head peninsula. The village is around 13km east-north-east of Dublin city centre and has a population of some 8,200.

Howth Yacht Club was founded as Howth Sailing Club in 1895. Howth Sailing Club later combined with Howth Motor Yacht Club, which had operated from the village’s West Pier since 1935, to form Howth Yacht Club.

The club organises and runs sailing events and courses for members and visitors all throughout the year and has very active keelboat and dinghy racing fleets. In addition, Howth Yacht Club prides itself as being a world-class international sailing event venue and hosts many National, European and World Championships as part of its busy annual sailing schedule.

As of November 2020, the Commodore of the Royal St George Yacht Club is Ian Byrne, with Paddy Judge as Vice-Commodore (Clubhouse and Administration). The club has two Rear-Commodores, Neil Murphy for Sailing and Sara Lacy for Junior Sailing, Training & Development.

Howth Yacht Club says it has one of the largest sailing memberships in Ireland and the UK; an exact number could not be confirmed as of November 2020.

Howth Yacht Club’s burgee is a vertical-banded pennant of red, white and red with a red anchor at its centre. The club’s ensign has a blue-grey field with the Irish tricolour in its top left corner and red anchor towards the bottom right corner.

The club organises and runs sailing events and courses for members and visitors all throughout the year and has very active keelboat and dinghy racing fleets. In addition, Howth Yacht Club prides itself as being a world-class international sailing event venue and hosts many National, European and World Championships as part of its busy annual sailing schedule.

Yes, Howth Yacht Club has an active junior section.

Yes, Howth Yacht Club hosts sailing and powerboat training for adults, juniors and corporate sailing under the Quest Howth brand.

Among its active keelboat and dinghy fleets, Howth Yacht Club is famous for being the home of the world’s oldest one-design racing keelboat class, the Howth Seventeen Footer. This still-thriving class of boat was designed by Walter Herbert Boyd in 1897 to be sailed in the local waters off Howth. The original five ‘gaff-rigged topsail’ boats that came to the harbour in the spring of 1898 are still raced hard from April until November every year along with the other 13 historical boats of this class.

Yes, Howth Yacht Club has a fleet of five J80 keelboats for charter by members for training, racing, organised events and day sailing.

The current modern clubhouse was the product of a design competition that was run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in 1983. The winning design by architects Vincent Fitzgerald and Reg Chandler was built and completed in March 1987. Further extensions have since been made to the building, grounds and its own secure 250-berth marina.

Yes, the Howth Yacht Club clubhouse offers a full bar and lounge, snug bar and coffee bar as well as a 180-seat dining room. Currently, the bar is closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Catering remains available on weekends, take-home and delivery menus for Saturday night tapas and Sunday lunch.

The Howth Yacht Club office is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Contact the club for current restaurant opening hours at [email protected] or phone 01 832 0606.

Yes — when hosting sailing events, club racing, coaching and sailing courses, entertaining guests and running evening entertainment, tuition and talks, the club caters for all sorts of corporate, family and social occasions with a wide range of meeting, event and function rooms. For enquiries contact [email protected] or phone 01 832 2141.

Howth Yacht Club has various categories of membership, each affording the opportunity to avail of all the facilities at one of Ireland’s finest sailing clubs.

No — members can join active crews taking part in club keelboat and open sailing events, not to mention Pay & Sail J80 racing, charter sailing and more.

Fees range from €190 to €885 for ordinary members.
Memberships are renewed annually.

©Afloat 2020