Navy Officer Cadetship For Harbour Apprentice

Navy Officer Cadetship For Harbour Apprentice


Friday 29th Mar 2024


A local Colwyn Bay student has started his engineering officer cadetship with the Merchant Navy, after an apprenticeship at Conwy Harbour arranged by Coleg Llandrillo.

Freddie Foulkes secured the first full-time marine apprenticeship after completing the Level 2 Marine Engineering course at Coleg Llandrillo. Working alongside the Harbour Master and Harbour staff for 12 months, Freddie gained valuable skills and experience, joining the ranks of the College’s previous students who have gone on to rewarding maritime careers.

Every year, Conwy County Borough Council’s Harbour Office offers practical work experience and paid seasonal work to some of the students enrolled on Coleg Llandrillo’s marine engineering course at the Rhos-on-Sea campus.

Freddie Foulkes said: “The experience I gained at Conwy Harbour was invaluable and it set me on the road to fulfilling my ambition of qualifying as a marine engineer. Every day working at the Harbour provided a different challenge, working in all weathers. The most exciting experience was when we worked with the fire brigade firefighting a boat fire in the Harbour.”

Harbour Master Matthew Forbes said: “Freddie is the sixth student to start a Merchant Navy Cadetship having worked at the harbour, and our first full-time apprentice. We’re very proud of his success and our other trainees who have gone on to professional maritime careers. The first student who completed a placement has now qualified as a Third Officer. Other students have gone on to sail on cruise ships, Trinity House vessels maintaining navigation buoys, cable laying ships, a tall ship and bulk carriers.”

For more information about marine engineering and boatbuilding courses and apprenticeships offered by the college, contact Andy White (Course Co-ordinator) by email at marine@gllm.ac.uk.