My Cadetship - Deck Cadet Eva Crawford

We’re pleased to reshare this latest My Cadetship story, originally written and published by Just Be Maritime, highlighting Deck Officer Cadet Eva Crawford and her cadetship journey. Thank you to the Just Be Maritime team for sharing Eva’s story and shining a light on the experiences of cadets across the industry.

Deck Cadet Eva Crawford commenced her Officer Cadetship in September 2023 and is fully sponsored by the Corporation of Trinity House. Since completing her initial academic studies and professional short courses at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, Eva is now undertaking her final college phase after completing two sea phases aboard a variety of ship types.

During her cadetship, Eva has gained excellent seagoing and watchkeeping experience and will now complete her remaining academic and safety training elements at Fleetwood Nautical Campus before qualifying as an Officer of the Watch and being awarded her Foundation Degree in Marine Operations.

What made you decide to follow a seagoing career and undertake an Officer Cadetship?
My decision to pursue a sea-going career and undertake an officer cadetship was influenced by both my personal background and how I wanted to pursue my working career. I have been surrounded by boats for as long as I can remember, growing up sailing in Scotland with my family. This early exposure gave me a strong interest in anything water related. I was also drawn to a career that allows me to travel, responsibility, and hands-on work rather than an office-based role.

How did you learn about careers at sea and then decide upon your professional discipline (i.e. Deck Officer, Engineer Officer or Electro–Technical Officer)?
I first learned about careers at sea through a family friend, Angus Ferguson, who runs Onboard Maritime. Speaking to someone with direct experience in the industry gave me a clearer understanding of the different career paths available within the merchant navy. After careful consideration I decided to pursue a deck officer cadetship. This decision was largely based off my sailing background as I felt this route best suited my existing experience and current interests, while offering me an opportunity to take on greater responsibility and develop my knowledge further.

In accepting your sponsoring organisation’s offer of an Officer Cadetship, which factors most influenced your decision?
Trinity House came highly recommended when deciding what organisation I wanted to pursue my officer cadetship with. This gave me confidence in the quality of training and support I would get throughout my cadetship. A major factor that interested me in Trinity House was the opportunity to gain experience on a variety of ship types during my sea phases. This was particularly important to me, as it would allow me to develop a broader understanding of the industry and way of living onboard, helping me to make a more informed decision about what type of vessel I would like to work on in the future.

Please describe your experience at college during your first training phase, in terms of academic delivery, safety training courses and preparation for your first seagoing appointment.
I moved away from home in Glasgow to attend Fleetwood Nautical College, which was a significant but important step for me, helping to develop my independence which I would need once I began my sea phases. During my first phase at college, I found the environment to be welcoming and supportive. The lecturers were all approachable and knowledgeable in their given areas, helping me to gain confidence as I began to adapt to the academic demands of the course.

I was originally one of 3 girls in my class of 30, a gender imbalance I quickly realised would continue throughout my seagoing career. I also found it interesting talking with cadets at college who had already completed some of their required sea time. Hearing about their experiences gave me a better understanding of what to expect and how to prepare. In addition to my academic modules, I also completed several short courses, most notably my STCW Basic Safety Training. This provided me essential knowledge and practical skills in firefighting, personal survival techniques, and first aid which are fundamental for working at sea.

How did you feel as you walked up the gangway upon joining your first vessel?
The walk up the gangway to join my first ship, could be better described as a climb. All I could think as I carried my bag up was, “This gangway is very steep, I’ve packed way too much, oh my god that’s an open lifeboat!”. In this moment reality hit hard, seeing the ship up close and realising I was about to live and work at sea. Despite the nerves, there was also a thrill in finally stepping on board and beginning my seagoing journey.

Please describe your experience on your seagoing vessel appointments, in terms of onboard integration, work experience, training support and general lifestyle aboard.
I have been lucky enough to complete my seagoing appointments on 4 different vessels, each offering their own unique experiences. My first ship was Trinity House’s Patricia, a buoy tender, where I spent four months operating along the coast of England and Wales. This early experience introduced me to life at sea and allowed me to develop basic seamanship skills, while integrating with a small, close-knit crew and to no surprise gaining a lot of knowledge on buoys and aids to navigation.

I then joined Saga’s Spirit of Discovery for two months, sailing in the Baltic Sea, Iceland, and Greenland. This cruise experience exposed me to a larger crew and passenger-focused operations, providing insight into service, navigation, and safety in a more complex environment.

During my second sea phase, I sailed on Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess in Japan for four months. The cruise setting offered a lively onboard atmosphere, with a strong focus on passenger service and entertainment, while still allowing me to build professional competence through structured training and watchkeeping duties.

Finally, I joined Seapeak’s LNGC icebreaker Eduard Toll, sailing from Europe to Russia in sub-zero temperatures. Onboard, I gained valuable experience in ice navigation, operating azipod propulsion systems, managing operations such as bond store, port papers, and FFA/LSA, becoming a trusted member of the crew. These responsibilities allowed me to build confidence and develop the skills required to progress towards becoming a Third Officer.

Across each appointment, the training approach changed to reflect the vessel type, giving me progressively more hands-on experience and trust, particularly on cargo vessels where I was entrusted with greater responsibilities as I developed.
What have been the most demanding and the best parts of your college training phases?

What have been the most demanding and the best parts of your college training phases?

Throughout my college phases, the most demanding part I found was keeping up with the wide range of modules, coursework and exams which followed requiring focus, discipline, and effective time management. The best part of my college training was meeting such a wide range of people and growing my knowledge and passion for an area of genuine interest.

Do you have any favourite ports of call?
During my time at sea, I have been fortunate to visit many incredible ports, making it hard to pick just one favorite. Taipei in Taiwan stands out because I went on a crew gondola ride with a glass-bottom car that took us high into the mountain tea gardens. The three other cadets and I had dinner and a few drinks at the top, then made our way back to the ship, arguably a bit merrier than we should have been.

Iceland was another highlight, where I visited the Blue Lagoon and experienced its stunning natural beauty. Additionally, navigating through ice-covered waters in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) was an unforgettable experience, providing a unique and challenging perspective on maritime operations. Overall, my time on cruise ships and cargo vessels allowed me to see amazing places around the world, each leaving its own unique impression and contributing to my love of travel and maritime life.

From both a professional and personal perspective, what have been the highlights of your seagoing appointments to date?
The highlights of my seagoing appointments so far have come from both the experiences I have had and the responsibilities I have been given. One of the most rewarding aspects has been meeting people from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities, building strong connections, and learning from all crew members along the way.

A major highlight has been the level of trust placed in me as I progressed. I have been given the opportunity to carry out tasks and operations more independently. Being trusted with these responsibilities has helped build my confidence and confirmed my ability to work towards becoming a qualified officer.

A challenge I hadn’t anticipated was that, as a smaller woman in a male‑dominated industry, even simple things like uniform and PPE were rarely available in sizes that suited me. Most of the standard‑issue kit on board was designed for much larger male body frames, so finding anything that fit properly became a constant struggle. However, dealing with this helped me become more resourceful and assertive, and it gave me a sense of pride in adapting and proving that I could thrive regardless of the obstacles.

What personal benefits have you gained so far from undertaking your cadetship?
Undertaking my officer cadetship has allowed me to develop my confidence, independence, and resilience. Living and working at sea has required me to step outside of my comfort zone and adapt to new environments, people, and challenges on a regular basis. Being away from home for extended periods has helped me become more independent, as I have had to manage both my work responsibilities and day-to-day life on my own. With limited Wi-Fi and ranging time zones it can be hard to contact home.
Working in a demanding and sometimes challenging environment has strengthened my resilience and ability to cope under pressure. Overall, the experience has significantly increased my confidence in my own abilities, both personally and professionally, and has helped me grow into a more capable and self-reliant individual.

How do you see your career developing once you have successfully completed your cadetship?
At this stage, I am open-minded about where my career may take me in the future. However, my immediate goal after completing my officer cadetship is to continue working at sea and build on the experience I have gained so far.

I am keen to progress through the ranks, developing my skills and knowledge further to take on more responsibility over time. By continuing to learn from each vessel and crew I work with, I aim to become a competent and confident officer, with the long-term ambition of advancing within the maritime industry.

What would be your recommendations to someone who is considering undertaking an Officer Cadetship too in the near future?
My recommendations to someone undertaking an officer cadetship in the near future would be to remain open-minded and make the most of every opportunity. Each vessel, crew, and experience will be different, so being adaptable and willing to learn is key. It is also important not to take things too personally. Life at sea can be challenging, and feedback or communication styles may vary, so maintaining a professional attitude and resilience is essential.

Finally, when it comes to preparing for your first trip, pack light - no matter how little you think you have packed, you can always take less. What you pack you have to carry… often up a steep gangway