World's Most Mature Cadet Qualifies for Sea Duty

Cardiff-based Graig Ship Management is pleased to announce that its ex-fireman cadet Peter Sommerfield has recently qualified as a certificated watchkeeping officer at the age of 45 years. He has completed his cadetship and qualified for his STCW II/I certificate.

Following a long career in the UK fire service, Peter spent two years looking for a company willing to provide sponsorship for a deck cadetship. Graig's Fleet Personnel Director Captain David John agreed to give Peter the opportunity he sought.

Press coverage at the time Peter joined, as what is thought to be the world's oldest deck cadet, led to Graig receiving a number of approaches from more mature persons contemplating cadet sponsorship. As a result Vincent Powell is currently under training, having commenced a cadetship with Graig at the age of 34 years.

"We are an innovative company and we are pleased at Peter's success, which proves that age is not a barrier to a successful career at sea. Our crews benefited from Peter's fire service experience during his periods onboard our fleet of multi-purpose vessels, and he will make a good officer," says John. "We currently have eleven cadets under training and will be recruiting five more in September, when four will complete their training. The mix of backgrounds, ages and nationalities on our vessels helps to make for dynamic and efficient crews."

Sommerfield says, "The experience gained with Graig was more than I could ever have expected. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and would like to express my gratitude and thanks to the masters I sailed with. They all taught me so much in what then seemed so little time. I remember going down to the Graig offices to be interviewed by Captain John thinking that it would be a waste of time as he would consider me too old. However, that was not the case and when towards the end of the interview he asked me how I would feel having to wear flannels, shirt and tie, and going to college with 17 year olds I replied 'I would wear a skirt if I had to'. I am forever grateful to Graig Ship Management for giving me that opportunity. I am really enjoying my new career and certainly have no regrets."

Graig Ship Management manages a fleet of multi-purpose vessels and has successfully supervised the building of over 100 ships of different types at yards in Asia. It is currently supervising the building of 27 Diamond 53 and 10 Diamond 34 future-proof bulk carriers in Vietnam alone, for itself and its partners, plus other vessels in India and China.

The Graig Group is a broad-based international shipowning and shipping services group which provides innovative solutions for newbuilding supervision, ship management, ship design, ship owning and ship finance. Working from offices in Cardiff, London, Shanghai, Hamburg and Hanoi it is currently building ships for itself and other owners and operators at yards in China, Vietnam and India and managing an active portfolio of modern vessels.