HMS Collingwood Officer enjoys a taste of the Merchant Life

Sub Lieutenant Henry Wright has become the latest success in the Merchant Navy Liaison Voyage Scheme set up to share experience between the Royal and Merchant Navies.

For the last few weeks, the MS King Seaways has been home to the young Sub Lieutenant as he takes time out of his Information Warfare Officers course at HMS Collingwood near Fareham to broaden his experience.

He’s been getting to grips with all the tasks required to run a civilian vessel, in this case a 163m cruise ferry, taking over 1300 passengers and 600 cars between Newcastle and Ijmuiden in North Holland.

Whilst on board he has taken his turn at night duty, overseen the safe unloading of the ship and performed various other duties, integrating himself fully into the routines of the ship.

He said, “The experience I have gained while being on board King Seaways has been invaluable to my understanding as to how our counterparts in the Merchant Marine Industry operate, both in their similarities and in their differences.”

The Merchant Navy Liaison Voyage Scheme is the brainchild of HMS Collingwood’s Lieutenant Commander David Carter and aims to give Royal Navy personnel an insight into how their counterparts in the Merchant Navy sail, navigate and manage their ships.

It tightens the bonds between the two navies fostering a closer understanding of the differing skills needed and allowing a valuable exchange of information and techniques.