Inside Fleetwood Nautical Campus ⚓

Inside Fleetwood Nautical Campus ⚓

Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch a career as a Merchant Navy Officer or Maritime Apprentice? For this episode of the Full Ahead Podcast Alistair and Nigel go on-location to Fleetwood Nautical Campus (FNC) widely regarded as one of the UK’s top nautical institutions. With a rich seagoing history dating back to 1892, the campus continues to set the benchmark for maritime education. We visited their open day to meet cadets preparing for life at sea and the specialist instructors training them. In this episode: * from the bridge to the training pool, we go inside Fleetwood's state-of-the-art facilities * 'engine or deck?' We hear from cadets from both! * and we hear from the man at the top Neil Atkinson who attended in 1989 and following a 22-year career at sea returned as Head of Campus in 2013. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube! The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s favourite ferry company.

The Åland Islands: Europe's Maritime Meeting Place

Discover why the Åland Islands have become one of northern Europe's most important maritime meeting places. Alistair travels to Mariehamn for Maritime Day, where shipping professionals, industry leaders and enthusiasts gather to network, share ideas and celebrate the maritime sector. From the charity 5K run supporting Mercy Ships to interviews with leading names in shipping, this episode captures the atmosphere of one of the Baltic's biggest maritime events. Featuring guests from Godby Shipping, DFDS, Viking Line and event organiser Ålands Sjöfart, plus a conversation with the Speaker of the Åland Parliament, you'll hear how this unique island community combines a rich maritime heritage with a forward-looking shipping industry. The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company. The islands: [https://visitaland.com/en/]Stena Line [https://www.stenaline.co.uk/]

Hey Tugboat, the Bristol Channel's First Female Tug Captain | Full Ahead Podcast

Rhiannon Pritchard made history as the Bristol Channel's first female tug captain — and she's helping shine a spotlight on one of the maritime industry's most important yet often overlooked roles. Through her hugely popular Hey Tugboat social media channels, Rhiannon has attracted thousands of followers by sharing life at the helm of a Svitzer tug. She offers a skipper's-eye view of ship handling and the vessels that keep maritime traffic moving safely and efficiently. In this episode of The Full Ahead Podcast, Rhiannon discusses her career journey so far, her life as a tug captain, the realities of working on the water, and how social media is helping introduce a whole new audience to the world of maritime operations. If you're fascinated by ships, ports and the people who keep global trade moving, this is an episode not to miss! Follow Hey Tugboat on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. The Full Ahead Podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea's leading ferry company.

Seawork Southampton 2026: Inside Europe’s Biggest Commercial Marine Show

“We haven’t built the perfect boat.” That’s the verdict from Alan Goodchild of Goodchild Marine,speaking to Full Ahead at Seawork. Billed as Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine andworkboat exhibition, Seawork brings together hundreds of organisations from across the maritime sector. From unmanned vessels and cutting-edge safety technology to maritime charities and scientific organisations such as theBritish Antarctic Survey, there was plenty to explore. During our visit, we stepped aboard a brand-new pilot boat,took a tour of a powerful harbour tug, and heard about the University of Southampton’s ambitions to strengthen collaboration between industry andacademia. As this special episode reveals, innovation, skills andsustainability are shaping the future of the maritime industry. The Full Ahead Podcast: Proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.

On the Bridge: Chief Officer Harvey Finney, CalMac | Season 2

We hope you enjoyed our trip aboard CalMac's newest ferry in the first epsiode of the second series! The MV Isle of Islay, An t-Eilean Ìle in Gaelic serves Islay and was launched in 2024, the first of two ferries being built in Turkey to service the route. Chief Officer Harvey Finney was among the team who brought the ship home to Scotland during what was to prove an eventful journey! In this bonus interview with Alistair which we recorded on the ship's bridge during a crossing to Islay, he explains about the emergency that helped the crew put the ferry through its' paces, what it is like to take on a 'new build' and his ambitions, one year after we first interviewed him for the Full Ahead Podcast. The podcast is proudly sponsored by Stena Line, the Irish Sea’s leading ferry company.