We recently provided Alex with work experience as he was keen to learn about maritime roles.

Here’s what he had to say:

“As part of my year 11 work experience, I spent a week at Douglas Maritime. It was very interesting to see some key aspects of what goes on behind the scenes of shipbroking.

“On one of my first days Anne and I went to the port of Blyth to see a ship taking bunkers. Seeing this made me appreciate how much work goes into operating ships.

“Later in the week, I also attended an Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers meeting at Port Clarence Logistics. The group discussed events and education activities. They also voted for committee members and new chairperson at the AGM. It was a great experience to meet some experts and people who have worked in shipping for a long time.

“It was also very interesting to see the international aspects and how we communicate and build relationships with shipbrokers and shipowners around the world and make cargoes move.

“I really enjoyed being part of the team’s weekly gym session too!

“Overall, this week working at Douglas Maritime has definitely given me lots of ideas about working in shipping and careers that I could explore in the future, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to experience the workplace environment and meet new people.”

Alex brought lots of enthusiasm to every task and showed a genuine curiosity about the industry. It was a pleasure to support his learning journey, and we hope his time with us has sparked a lasting interest in maritime careers.

We look forward to welcoming Alex back in the future and wish him all the best with his ongoing studies. If Alex is anything to go by, the next generation is full of potential — and the future looks bright!