News
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
After skillfully navigating their way through five, 45 minute exercises, Team Four (known as ‘One Flew Over the Crow’s Nest’) took home top honours during this weekend’s 5th annual Nautical Skills Competition, hosted by the Company of Master Mariners of Canada (NL Division), in collaboration with the Marine Institute.
The team, made up of Marc Legresley, Claude Beaudoin, Susan MacNeill, Adam Dyson, Owen Morris and Devon Duffett will now have their names proudly displayed on the Captain Jim Thorpe plaque and each was presented with a $1000 cash prize. Second prize was presented to Team Three, with third going to Team Six. Prizes were also handed out for safety, spirit, communications and leadership, professionalism, and achievement.
The annual Nautical Skills Competition aims to promote the maritime sector, encourage team building and professionalism and foster a culture of safety. The event provides students the opportunity to network with some of the region’s most experienced mariners, interact with fellow cadets and put their education to the test. Teams were awarded points based on their attention to safety, their ability to successfully execute specific tasks and follow procedures and their ability to communicate effectively and engage all team members.
In addition to the first, second and third year Nautical Science students, nine high school students from across Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island were also in attendance. The students plan to attend MI in September and were invited to observe the competition and learn about the Nautical Science program. As part of the competition prize giveaways, three of these students were presented with a one-semester tuition voucher, donated by the Company of Master Mariners (CMMC) Foundation and the NL Division. Victoria Gillett, a Level III student from J.M. Olds Collegiate in Twillingate, N.L. was one of the recipients.
“I was really happy to be part of this year’s competition, which taught me a lot about the Nautical Science program and how things work at MI,” said Ms. Gillett. “The tuition voucher will certainly be a big help in furthering my education.”
This year’s competition also included international visitors from the University of Rijeka in Croatia. Dr. Srdjan Zuskin, a professor at the University of Rijeka notes that his institution is pleased to be building a friendship with MI and that this visit was a way for both organizations to share information about their similar programs. The three students say the highlight of the visit was the friendships they made and getting to see MI’s simulators in action for the dynamic positioning exercise.
The 2016 Nautical Skills Competition would not have been a success without the support of a number of sponsors, including Atlantic Towing, Woodward Group of Companies, Kongsberg Maritime, McKeil Marine, Fednav, Rutter, Oceanex, Canship Ugland, Groupe Ocean, Secunda, Wrightway, Teekay, Marine Atlantic, Falck Safety Services, Avalon Custom Brokers, Atlantic Pilotage Authority, NEAS, Global Maritime, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, Virtual Marine Technology, Survirtec Group and FMC Technologies.
Check out this short video for a recap of the day-long competition.
The Company of Master Mariners of Canada (CMMC) is a professional association for those qualified to command. It is a not-for-profit organization established to encourage and maintain high and honourable standards within the nautical profession.
