Introduction

The Northern Lighthouse Board is the General Lighthouse Authority responsible for the waters surrounding Scotland and the Isle of Man. They employ a dedicated team of engineers, technicians, mariners, retained lightkeepers and office staff. Visit their website for career opportunities.

Skills and Development 

Fergal and Shaun are Apprentice Able Seafarers with the Northern Lighthouse Board. They combine sea training on Northern Lighthouse Board’s ships, PHAROS and POLE STAR, with nautical training at the City of Glasgow College, Maritime Education and Training Faculty.

The apprenticeship has been a great way to start a career at sea. NLB offers a wide range of training and opportunities that you wouldn’t get with the average 9-5 job. So far, I’ve been involved with helicopter operations, buoy work and ship maintenance.

Fergal McCloskey

I applied for the apprenticeship because I was looking for a change and really liked what it was offering. The job is great and so varied. One day you could be doing buoy work and the next flying in the helicopter to lighthouses.

Shaun Lockhart 

A Career in Engineering 

If you’re interested in a career in engineering, Morgan Dennison, Mechanical Engineering Apprentice with the Northern Lighthouse Board and Shaun Kavanagh, Electrical Engineering Apprentice, recommend an apprenticeship as a great way to start. 

My work involves travelling to lighthouses for mechanical maintenance and breakdowns. I’ve also been involved with the refit of our vessel PHAROS where I stripped and rebuilt one of the main generators, a real highlight

Morgan Dennison

I work on a wide range of electrical equipment which is essential in keeping our lighthouses operational. A highlight of my apprenticeship was a site visit to the Bell Rock, the world’s oldest working sea washed lighthouse

Shaun Kavanagh