Day of the Seafarer 2022 – some of The BMA team reflect on their maritime journeys

With shipping being critical to the global economy, we once again turn our eyes to its most important asset – its seafarers – and reflect on the voyages they take to keep us going.

The IMO is asking us all to look at seafarer’s personal voyages as its theme for this year’s Day of the Seafarer, and so we have asked some of The BMA team to reflect on their maritime journeys. At the same time we at The BMA and the industry as a whole welcome graduates of the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps who have just finished their training and are about to set off on their own professional maritime journey.

Capt. Dwain Hutchinson
My Maritime Journey

And so the journey begins…

It all started with the question posed by a teacher in High School in Nassau, ‘Do you want the chance to continue your education, see the world and get paid whilst doing it ?’

Roll forward two years and, having circumnavigated the world, visited five countries, criss-crossed the Equator, transited the Suez and Panama Canals, to seeing snow for the first time…. my seafarer journey had truly begun and all the boxes of that original question had been ticked.

From developing lifelong skills and friendship, to appreciating teamwork and experiencing different cultures, to understanding the value and importance of shipping, to representing my country on a global stage – I remain proud to say that I am a seafarer and, as a seafarer, I am honoured to be provided with the opportunity to share my experiences as I continue my maritime education in this exciting sector.

Where it all began for the Fox Hill Boy from The Bahamas…

Stephen Keenan
My Maritime Journey

I grew up next to Loch Linnhe, a sea loch in the Scottish Highlands, and have had an interest in the sea my whole life.

For me and my peers most of the opportunities available were not in the Highlands but further afield and so, at just 17 years old, I moved to England to commence my career as a Merchant Navy officer. 

I first had the opportunity to visit The Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, where the ship I was on supported the relief operations. This was an experience I will never forget and was my first experience of Bahamian hospitality!

Several years later the opportunity came to join The BMA when the company I was working for closed down. Having had dealings with The BMA as a superintendent, this was a move that I was very pleased to make. 

Fast forward to today and I am proud to be part of “Team Bahamas” and The BMA and, despite the numerous challenges experienced along the way, I am proud to work with some of the world’s leading shipping companies who entrust us with their ships. 

On the Day of the Seafarer I am reflecting on my career at sea and then ashore and the opportunities it has provided to a wee boy from the Highlands.

Where it all started for a wee boy from the Highlands…

Isabella Jones
My Maritime Journey

As a young girl I was thrilled when my bother-in-law, employed with Shell at the time, recognized my interest in shipping and invited me to sail on an oil tanker. Later, on vacation in the Turks & Caicos Islands, I discovered the cruise lines were employing personnel – I dropped everything and started work with one of the world’s famous cruise lines. 

After two years I left the beach bag, flipflops and extensive travel behind, and embarked on a new journey studying law – but I never forgot my love of the ocean.   

There followed a long period of studying which was all geared towards maritime and seafarers.   I am currently shoreside employed at The BMA where my foremost emphasis is the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006.  I am still committed to the ocean, but this time to the ships that sail, and more importantly the seafarers employed onboard, which is an exceptionally rewarding career. My dedication to the shipping industry was illuminated, when I was listed at number 77 in All About Shipping, Top 100 Women in Shipping. 

My travels, love for the beautiful blue ocean, and studies awarded me the opportunity to work in the shipping industry and have qualified me to ensure that my fellow seafarers, the human element of shipping and key workers have and will continue to have decent working and living conditions, and I am indeed blessed, to be appointed in this vital role. 

Where it all began for our Grand Bahamian island girl…

Back onboard!

Capt. Ghulam Hussain
My Maritime Journey

My maritime career began in 1974 as a cadet trainee at the Marine Academy in Chittagong. From that moment there was no turning back. Through various exams and stints on a number of vessels, and via Hong Kong and Bangladesh, I found myself in the UK, first at The Nautical Institute and for the past two years at The BMA.

Looking back at my career at sea, it has given me and the other people who have shared my experiences the opportunity to be “unofficial ambassadors” of our countries as we visited various ports and mixed with varied cultures. We learnt to co-exist in harmony with our crew mates and accept various cultures and ways of life. Whether at sea or ashore, I would recommend everyone continues their efforts to enhance professional development. There is much to learn and much more to contribute towards the maritime industry.  I am so proud to be a seafarer.

A young boy from East of Suez…

Capt. Jerry Mooney
My Maritime Journey

Ever since I can remember I always wanted to go to sea.  Initially the Royal Navy was my sole consideration but then, with the help of a family friend, I realised that I could earn much more with the Merchant Navy.  Unfortunately, my academic abilities and my ambitions didn’t match-up.  However, in the early 80s a change in legislation opened-up an opportunity for me and I got sponsored as a deck officer trainee and at the age of 18, I started my pre-sea training.

Everything seemed then to ‘click’ and I qualified as a Master in the early 90s, gaining my first command in 1996, aged 34.  A ship’s Captain is known onboard as the ‘Old Man’, yet I was often the youngest person onboard.  Although I have worked ashore for the last 16 years, I consider the phrase ‘once a seafarer, always a seafarer’ to be very true and in that respect I am really pleased to see the effort put in by The BMA to protect and assist the seafarers employed on vessels flagged in the Bahamas.

Keeping a bridge watch…

Georgios Tsatouchas
The start of my maritime journey

My career in the maritime sector has been small until now but I hope it will grow bigger here at BMA.

My post-graduate degree is not from the shipping field however, as it is my ambition to remain in maritime, I decided to register at a master’s degree college in order to learn more about this vast subject. At first, it was very difficult to deal with the shipping terms but after some time I have got use of them.

My first steps in maritime, which also helped me with the master’s degree, began when I had the opportunity to have some training in Ship’s Agency at a big company for three months. I gained enough knowledge and I broadened my general experience in shipping. After that, I worked for a logistics company where I also received some extra experience regarding liner shipping.

Finally, for the past four months, it has been my honour to work for the Bahamas Maritime Authority and I hope it will be for a longer period.

Anonymous BMA Staff Member
My Maritime Journey

I joined the merchant navy straight from school having been introduced to the possibilities of a life at sea through the Sea Cadets.

During my third trip, at the tender age of 18, my ship suffered a fire in the accommodation block. In fire suits and breathing apparatus, the chief officer and I fought the fire and, once the smoke was cleared, set about investigating its nature and cause.  Digging beyond the surface causes of that fire to establish how the same thing could be avoided in the future fostered an interest in casualty investigation that stayed with me for the rest of my seagoing career and beyond.

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