I began my maritime career in September 1978 as a deck cadet with British & Commonwealth (B&C). In December 1982, I was made redundant and shortly thereafter, in January 1983, joined Neptune Shipping on behalf of CI Shipping. I served as Third Mate on Al Attared, CI Shipping’s first management vessel, which we took over from Fyffes in Jeddah.

After that chapter, I moved to the Southern North Sea, progressing through the ranks and ultimately serving as Master on aggregate dredgers from 1995 until 2004.

From 2004 to 2006, I worked with Condor Ferries before transitioning ashore in 2006 to take up a management role as Marine Manager and Designated Person Ashore (DPA), later becoming Operations Manager for a marine aggregate company.

In 2012, I joined Global Marine Systems as Nautical Manager and DPA. Then in June 2015, I began my current role as a Marine Accident Inspector with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), based in Southampton.

It feels like only yesterday I stepped aboard the Clan Alpine in Avonmouth as a brash 16-year-old cadet.

My father, Howard Jones, was also a seafarer. He began his career with Clan Line in 1955, eventually rising to the rank of Master. He dedicated nearly his entire working life to B&C before retiring at 57. Not one to slow down, he continued his career with P&O on the Harwich–Hook of Holland route as Second Officer until his final retirement at age 65. He passed away on Christmas Day 2012, aged 73.