“I originally wanted to be a marine biologist but I went to an open evening whilst at sixth form being run by Seajacks who offered me the opportunity to view around one of their ships, Scylla, which is their largest and most advanced offshore wind farm installation vessel. Seeing how everything was done around the ship and their routines intrigued me. It’s quite a niche job and I thought I’d give it a go. And since joining I have been really motivated because I’m learning so many new things – it’s quite mind-blowing.”

“I love learning new things and I’m not just doing the same thing all day long.”

Hermione had just turned 20-years-old when she chatted with us about her new career and is really focused on eventually qualifying as ship’s captain. She is a deck cadet training at Warsash Maritime Academy and is being sponsored by Seajacks who have a fleet of the world’s most advanced self-propelled jack-up vessels.

“As part of my training at sea I’ve worked on all of the technology on the ship’s bridge.”

“I love learning new things and I’m not just doing the same thing all day long. And doing something different really keeps you more intrigued. The other cadets who I go to lectures with are working on normal-sized tankers and bulk carriers and not on very specialised ships like me. And until I came here I didn’t really enjoy studying but everyone is so motivated putting in the work because it is your career you’re building.”

“As part of my training at sea I’ve worked on all of the technology on the ship’s bridge including their DPS sticks (dynamic positioning systems) and also navigating the ship by manual steering. And the Seajacks crews have been really supportive and especially as a woman going away to work at sea for a few months – they’re just like a family with everyone looking out for each other.”

“My training manager at SSTG has been very supportive. She has helped getting me from ship to ship and helping with my training shoreside at college. They help a lot with the paperwork you have to do so that it is not too complicated for the cadets.”