Putting theory into practice
Emmaline Contoret, BSc (Hons) Navigation and Maritime Science
Seychelles-born Emmaline talks to us about what attracted her to Plymouth as a city and a university. Having already studied at the Seychelles Maritime School, where she was able to practice her skills on the water, Emmaline has found that the University of Plymouth has given her a solid basis of the theory she will need to progress in her career once she graduates with an accredited award.
“I get the chance to go out on the water with the University’s sailing yacht to put what I've learned in class into practice.”
“The description of the course on the University website was exactly what I was looking for. A career at sea has always been a dream of mine and I was impressed by seeing the videos about the course from students.
"Seeing women studying the course inspired me to become an inspiration for women in Seychelles to join the industry."
"I had a friend who was studying the same course at Plymouth, and he told me what he had been doing, which all seemed interesting. I've also heard that the University of Plymouth is well known for its marine courses and works closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which means that the certificate I will receive at the end of the course will have me on a professional level when I return to my country.
"The practical part of the course is my favourite. This is because I get the chance to go out on the water with the University’s sailing yacht to put what I've learned in class into practice.
"The simulator room is also a favourite because it helps me familiarise myself with instruments that could be found on board ships, and I can get enough practice to increase my confidence in boat manoeuvring. The simulator is also accessible every day after school hours, even during the weekends, which is very helpful.
"We study how to navigate from point A to B, but we also learn how to do passage planning using ECDIS and paper charts, as well as learning about celestial navigation and weather. We also study other maritime topics such as maritime law, ship management and more to prepare us for the maritime industry. The maritime industry is huge and filled with opportunities in various sectors, many of which don't require people to go to sea to navigate a ship."
"I feel that the University has prepared me for the whole industry."
"The course offers an accredited route for students who want to go to sea. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not; you would just have to apply for sponsorship with a shipping company, which will then allow you to go to sea for 12 months to do your unlimited Officer of the Watch license, which is a big plus when starting your career in the industry.”
“Plymouth is an Ocean City; you can go for a walk by the Barbican and see the things they teach us in lectures in real life.
"Facilities are available at your disposal to improve your learning process. The Marine Station is not far from the main campus, and this is where we go take the yacht for the practical sessions. The staff are always there to help and give advice.
"More women are getting into the industry and my coursemates and lecturers are very welcoming and do not make me feel out of place. Everyone treats each other in the same way.”
BSc (Hons) Navigation and Maritime Science
90% of world trade is carried by sea – with a navigation and maritime science degree, you can become a professional in this exciting and vital industry. Our graduates go on to careers in the shore-based maritime sector and, for those who follow the accredited route, to become a Ship's Officer.
