Position: Cook A highlight experience was definitely seeing three humpback whales breaching in succession in Antarctica right outside the galley window. There ended up being about eight whales but those three were so close! I’ve been working at NIWA for 5 years in...
Position: Steward One time on the Straitsman ferry there was a hideous stormy night. My workmate friend, also called Kendal and I were working on the night run where there were no passengers and there was a freak 18m trough. As we went through it, we just held each...
Position: Extra 2nd mate Back when I was fishing, we were 1800 miles from nearest land, and we got a net stuck around the propeller. We took a mask off a BA set and hooked a line into a compressor to make an underwater breathing apparatus. We then cut out the bottom...
Position: 2nd mate I’ve been working at NIWA for 2 years. Before that I was on cement carriers for Holcim and before that I spent 6 months on deck of the R/V Falkor. I trained on oil tankers and then did four years on cruise ships as third mate before moving onto...
Position: 1st mate I chose a life at sea even though I’m allergic to seafood! I’ve been working at NIWA for 10 years. Before that I was a boatbuilder. As the first mate I manage the crew, oversee deck operations and keep watch on the bridge. I find the job both...
