Meet the latest Bermudian Cadets aboard the Oleander.

Gordon Loader is a Bermuda Radio trainee who joined the container ship on Monday for four months' training as a Navigation Officer.

The 23-year-old from Paget attended the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and aims to pursue a career with Bermuda Maritime Operations.

He says a life at sea is in his "blood" as his father was a shipwright who built wooden sailing dinghy's.

"I will be observing and trying to learn as much as possible in my time here, but will specialise in navigation communications and the stability of the ship," said Mr. Loader.

Anthoni Lightbourne is an Apprentice Pilot who will be on-board for two weeks to finish his practical training. He then sits his final exams to become a full Government Branch Pilot.

Mr. Lightbourne, 27, from Somerset, studied at Warsash Maritime College in Southampton, UK. He said: "I have been around boats and the water my whole life. I have always had an appreciation for the ocean.

"In previous years I've been on ocean-going merchant ships worldwide, so the 48 hours it takes to get from Bermuda to the East Coast is a relatively easy route."

Adam Goodwin is privately-funded and is being part-sponsored by BCL (Bermuda Container Line Ltd).

He is pursuing a career as a Navigation Officer and is halfway towards obtaining his initial Navigation Watchkeeper's Licence.

Mr. Goodwin, of Smith's, hopes to eventually attain his Master Mariner's licence, which will enable him to captain any ship of unlimited tonnage.

The 20-year-old studied at the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania and has spent the past 11 months at sea.

He leaves the Oleander this Friday to join a Bernhard Schulte Ship Management vessel in Europe, to continue his training.

"I just like travelling to different countries," said Mr. Goodwin of his choice of career.

"But it is nice to be nearer home for a while. On bigger ships you are always changing ports and people, whereas on the Oleander you can make friends easier as it's always the same people. It's a good camaraderie."

Blair Simmons, vessel operations manager of Container Ship Management Ltd. (which manages BCL Ltd. and Somers Isles Shipping Ltd.) said: "Generally we try to make as much room for cadets as we can, whether they are Government-funded like Gordon and Anthoni or privately-sponsored like Adam.

"The Chief Officers supervise the cadets on board and provide me with feedback. There is also a Government training officer for cadets like Gordon and Anthoni."

The Oleander has helped to train six other Cadets in the past two years, most of whom have been in Government-sponsored training schemes with the Department of Marine and Ports.

"Generally they spend three to four months on the Oleander and then we try and help them find spaces on other ships around the world.

"We try to get them different experiences of different working environments," said Mr. Simmons.