TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR SEAFARERS

  Testimonial from Capt. A. Mulcahy
  Testimonial from Capt. W. Mates

Capt. A. Mulcahy
Having come from a sailing background I decided to go to sea in 1993 at the age of 24. I chose CIT’s seamanship course which entailed two months in college before going to sea. Most of my training was carried out on Arklow Shipping vessels who sponsored me for my college phases and enabled me to continue my training once the course had finished.

Having completed the initial two months in CIT I then spent the next 2_ years as a trainee on Arklow ships. During this time I sailed on various ships which gave me greater experience there were also a number of college phases to complete and various small courses.

Having received my first watchkeeping certificate in 1996 I joined the Arklow Bridge as second officer. I was promoted to Chief Officer after just seven weeks and sailed on bulk carriers as Chief Officer for a further year and a half.

In 2000 having obtained sufficient seatime I returned to CIT to complete Masters written exams. In July 2002 I received by Masters certificate and returned to Arklow Shipping to take up my first command the Arklow Marsh.

Capt. W. Mates
After growing up around boats and working for a time in a boatyard in my home town of Arklow, I decided in January of 1983 to apply to Arklow Shipping for a job as a seaman and can safely say that I have not looked back since.

A job more varied or interesting I believe would be very hard to find anywhere today.
Like people in all walks of life I spent the first few years learning the basics of the profession I had chosen. With encouragement and support from both Captains and Officers I had sailed with, my wife and family at home and the company I worked for, Arklow Shipping Limited, I progressed from being an ordinary seaman to deck officer, and later to Captain.

Today I have the pleasure of being Captain of the ARKLOW FREEDOM. A ship of 5290 tonnes displacement, and the ability to carry around 4100t of cargo.

After leaving school with very little in the way of formal qualifications, having just scraped through the Inter Cert, I can say that I definitely made the right choice with regards to my life and work.

Even after twenty years, there is still no way that I can see myself doing anything but being a seaman and while the job has changed drastically in recent years with the advent of bigger, faster ships and quicker turnaround times in port, it is still very interesting and rewarding work.

For me, I know that I could never work in any other industry and even the thoughts of a standard 9 to 5 job is enough to make me realise how much I really enjoy what I do for a living.