High-tech horizons beckon for today’s marine engineering apprentices

Apprentice George Woolliss, 18, found himself hovering above the rooftops of Bournemouth & Poole College last week. George, from the village of St Leonard’s near Ringwood, was given a bird’s eye view of the latest high-tech equipment loaned to the college on a long-term basis by Raymarine, one of the region’s leading marine electronics company based in Fareham.

The Raymarine equipment, fixed to the roof of the new Marine Engineering Centre which opened last year, is the latest piece of kit gifted by forward-looking companies to help apprentices improve the depth of their training. Raymarine has supplied its latest navigation and meteorological system which is directly linked to a boat helm simulator inside the Centre to train young engineers in the latest technology. Raymarine will also update the equipment on an annual basis as technology and systems continue to advance.

Richard Broden-Cowell, a lecturer of Bournemouth and Poole College thanked Raymarine and said, “We have had superb support from companies like Raymarine in helping to equip the Centre to the highest standard. As technology advances we have to be ready to innovate. That’s where we value outside backing like this.”

Greg Wells, OEM Sales Manager of Raymarine said, “It’s vital that today’s apprentices train on the latest equipment and gain significant depth of experience of new technology. Raymarine is a prime mover in the British Marine Electronics Association and supports qualifications such as the British Marine Electrical Technician certificate and the international Marine Electronics Installer programmes. T  hese young men and women are the marine engineers of the future and Raymarine is proud to support their education and training in this way.”

George, who is in his first year of an apprenticeship with Sunseeker International in Poole, said, “Every day is different. I am really enjoying my time here. The facilities are great and the support and encouragement from the college staff is just brilliant.”

For more information visit www.raymarine.com.