Cathal Kirwan
Describe your work onboard the ship. What are your responsibilities?
I am the Master of E/V Nautilus. The job of Master (Ship's Captain) comes with many responsibilities. This includes being legally responsible for the safety of the vessel and all those onboard. My job encompasses all the areas that help to fulfill that responsibility. I work together with my crew of professional seafarers to ensure the vessel is fully certified, maintained, run efficiently and effectively. This allows the vessel to fulfill its role as a 1st-class platform supporting all exploration activities required by Ocean Exploration Trust.
What part of your work do you like the most?
The part of my work that I like most is being able to build a team (crew) and influencing how we interact. The successful culmination of building a team results in a group that can work together in a professional way, enjoying their work with an easy and happy flow. I also love driving ships!!
What other jobs led you to your current career?
The list is too long and the space too small. My initial career was for 7 years in the 'deep sea'. This was on large ships of different types trading around the world.
In 1997, after I had qualified as a Master Mariner, I transferred to the Offshore Industry, where I specialized in a specialty called Dynamic Positioning (DP). I worked there for almost 24 years. The Offshore Industry is a fascinating industry and gives a large scope of vessel types and purposes. In that period, I achieved the position of Master on DP vessels. I worked on DP Dive, DP Construction, DP Pipelay, DP drilling, DP ROV, DP cable lay, DP Accommodation Flotels, and I was involved in projects all over the world.
Later, I worked as a Marine Warranty Surveyor, Marine Client Representative, Marine Consultant, and as an Expert Witness. A career at sea keeps giving.
In the middle of all this work, I also managed to work ashore for two years as a Marine Superintendent in a Shipping Company and spent five years working in Private Yachting on a DP Mega-yacht Support Vessel.
When the opportunity arrived for a position on E/V Nautilus, I was ready to explore a more rewarding role, and it has certainly been an interesting adventure to date!!
What are your hobbies?
My main hobby is spending time with my family. On the side, I have an interest in collecting whiskey and antiques, reading literature, theatre, golf, and a bit of fishing.
What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?
Jump straight in and explore the opportunities! Don't let your first role define you! Continually, adapt and enjoy every minute of it. The career at sea brings 'life-long learning' to a new level. Lastly, working at sea allows you to grow younger as you grow older... Very few careers have that capacity!!
What sparked your initial interest in a career working at sea?
My family members have been seafarers for many generations. That seafaring included both merchant marine service and working in the fishing industry to harvest the sea. I have had a close relationship with the sea from a young age. Through that relationship, my love and respect for the power and unpredictability of the sea grew. After working on a family fishing vessel for a number of summer holidays, I progressed to a career in the Merchant Marine. It seemed like a natural path, and I have never looked back with regret. The spark was living beside and working with the sea from a young age.
