Wednesday, 20 May 2009

NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE BOARD AWARDS NEW PRIZES TO NAFC CADETS

For the first time at the Shetland School of Nautical Studies two students received The Northern Lighthouse Board Prize which recognises academic achievement, excellence in assessment and/or project work and consistent professional performance by Merchant Navy Officer cadets.

David Sutherland from Scalloway and David Clark from Aberdeen each received a £1,000 prize at a presentation at the NAFC Marine Centre today (Wednesday 20 May). The prizes were presented by former Chairman of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, Captain George Sutherland. 

George Sutherland said: “I’m delighted to make this award on behalf of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses to two promising young cadets and wish them every success for their future careers.  I hope the link between the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Shetland School of Nautical Studies will continue in years to come”.

The prize has been funded by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses 2000 Trust, which is a recognised Scottish Charity, set up in 2000 with the purpose to assist in the provision of training, education and support for Merchant Navy Officer Cadets.  The criteria for the award, which has been given to one deck officer and one engineering officer, has been agreed between the School and the Trust. Selection was decided by a group of three Trustees of the Shetland Fisheries Training Centre with recommendations coming from the teaching staff at the Shetland School of Nautical Studies to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses 2000 Trust.

Commenting on his award for best deck officer cadet, David Sutherland said: “This is a complete surprise and it’s wonderful to win it.  I’m going to buy books with the prize money to help me with my studies.  I’d like to thank my lecturers at the NAFC as well as Shetland Islands Council Transport Services – Ferries for sponsoring me during my training.”

Winning the prize for best engineer officer cadet, David Clark added: “This makes all the effort worthwhile.  I need to buy a laptop to help me study while at sea so the prize money will come in very handy.  I’d like to thank all the staff at the Centre, my fellow classmates, as well as the Northern Lighthouse Board and my sponsor company Ship Safe Training Group (SSTG).”

Jan Rigden, head of the Shetland School of Nautical Studies said: “I’d also like to thank the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) for donating these prizes to the Merchant Navy cadets studying at the Shetland School of Nautical Studies.

“It’s pleasing, five years after the cadet programme started, to see the students we are producing being recognised across the industry and this NLB prize is the latest recognition of their professionalism.”

Summarising the event, Professor David Gray, director of the NAFC Marine Centre said: “These awards recognise the true excellence in the quality of the trainees that we send out into the workplace.  There is no better praise than when companies come back to us and ask us for more students who are clearly flying the flag for the Centre.

“As well as the Northern Lighthouse Board, I’d like to give thanks to the staff for the hard work they put into the training.  In my opinion you’d be hard pushed to find a better qualified team than at the NAFC.  I’d also like to thank the students who are committed and dedicated to doing this, as well as their families and friends – the support network who also want to see them reach their potential.”

Further information:

For further information, please contact: Jan Rigden, head of Shetland School of Nautical Studies, tel 01595 772000, email jan.rigden@nafc.uhi.ac.uk or visit www.nafc.ac.uk

Or, Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design, tel 01595 692465, email louise.rosie@shaw-online.com or visit www.shaw-online.com