Alan Stewart.         Ex M.N. Marine Engineer

Authorised BSS Examiner.

 

     I have been involved nearly all my life with the Marine industry. (Starting with The Royal Merchant Navy School at the tender age of 8!)

 

   After attending the "James Watt College" in Greenock 1959-61, I joined the Merchant Navy as a qualified Radio Officer.

I returned to college in Greenock in 1963 to obtain a Ministry of Transport Radar Maintenance certificate.

 

     I took a career change in 1967 to work for the Diplomatic Service, (Strange that, isn't it?) during which time I worked in Nigeria and India as well as the UK.

 

     I returned to the M.N. in 1974.  In 1975 I achieved a C&G Advanced Certificate in  Marine electronics.  The development of satellite communications started the gradual demise of my duties as a "Radio Officer". In the late 1980's my qualifications and job description went into continuous change, from "Senior Radio Officer", to "Radio/Electronic Officer"    

     

 I then qualified with the D.T.I.as a Marine Engineer Officer in the early 1990's, Thereafter I had a dual role of  Marine Engineer,  and Electro Technical Officer (ETO), being in charge of engine room watch, (normally for 24 hours every third day), with additional  (ETO) Electrical, electronic, instrumentation and control maintenance duties as well as Machinery maintenance and repair duties.

 

     I worked on Oil tankers, Liquid Natural Gas tankers , and Liquid Petroleum Gas Tankers.(and one bulker!)

     I retired in 2002.

 

     As a  narrow-boat owner, out of interest, while waiting to attend the "Boat Safety Examiners" training course, I took it upon myself to study for, and attained, a Lloyds Maritime Academy Diploma in Small Craft Surveying with accreditation in Inland Waterways.  This covers not just narrowboats but small craft of a all varieties with specialisation in Inland Waterways craft

 

     It was not my intention to take up surveying, and have not done so. It was an option I thought might  take up but never did. However I still keep abreast of developments.

 

     I qualified and registered as an Authorised Examiner for the Boat Safety Scheme In November 2008. I further qualified and registered to also examine non private boats (eg hire boats) in July 2011.

 

    I enjoy this work and meeting people. It is my intention to make my examination visits an informative friendly experience rather than a dreaded necessity. .

I look forward to seeing you, on your (well prepared) boat soon!