Skills learned from watchkeeper training with National Coastwatch (NCI) can take you far. And in the case of Catherine from Folkestone, those skills form part of a plan that’s set to take her around the world in a seafaring career. 

Catherine has embarked on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) training programme, working towards becoming a fully qualified deck officer in 2028. She’s also enrolled as a trainee watchkeeper at her local station near her home in Folkestone to help keep local coastal users safe and to acquire valuable skills for use in her work. 

“I called into the station out of curiosity while I was waiting for my RFA training to start. I had no idea what the watchkeepers did and I was given a warm welcome.  It was a happy coincidence that made it a win-win. I wanted to do something meaningful, and the bonus is that I’m getting a head start on skills I’ll be using in my career such as chartwork, navigation basics and VHF radio operation,” she said. 

Catherine originally studied music and planned a future in the arts but a chance couple of holiday jobs started a chain of events that led her to pursue a different career. 

“I worked on the cross-channel ferries and loved that and later, while on holiday from university, I worked on the Thames Clipper boats as a deckhand. Those memories and feelings were so strong that I investigated all types of seafaring opportunities and was lucky enough to be accepted onto the Royal Fleet Auxiliary training programme,” she explained. 

Her training is now well under-way, having completed her induction at Dartmouth. Catherine is now on the next phase at Fleetwood Nautical Campus and from there she will complete four to six months at sea for deck officer training. When she returns to her home base, she plans to continue her watchkeeper training at NCI Folkestone and volunteer in her spare time.  

Volunteering and watchkeeper training brings so many benefits and opens doors, said Catherine: 

“For anyone who wants to expand their skills and horizons, National Coastwatch is brilliant. The people are lovely and for me the experience of volunteering not only brings valuable life skills plus specific skills to help my career, most importantly I know I’m helping to make a difference. I’d definitely recommend it.” 

Stephen Hand, NCI’s Chair said:  

“Volunteering with National Coastwatch offers excellent opportunities to learn new technical skills but the greatest advantage is working as part of a strong team of people committed to their mission to help save lives at sea. This experience is a great benefit to career development and we’re delighted that Catherine hopes to continue volunteering with us, fitting it around her career commitments.” 

To find out more about volunteering Volunteering – National Coastwatch