Meet the Team - Cadet Hawys Davies

Meet Hawys Davies – The Journey of a Dedicated Cadet

For those who dream of adventure, challenge and a career that takes them beyond the ordinary, a cadetship could be your perfect route. Few people embody this spirit better than Hawys Davies, a Deck Officer Cadet, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, who is now in her final phase of her cadetship. Her journey is one of resilience, curiosity and a passion for learning – qualities that will undoubtedly pave the way for her successful career at sea.

A Cadetship: More Than Just a Qualification

A cadetship is no ordinary training program – it’s an intense three-year journey that combines academic study with real-life experience at sea. Hawys describes it as ‘a fully immersive training course that equips you with everything that you need for a life at sea”.

The Structure is rigorous:

·      Phase 1 begins at college, tackling the foundation of the degree – something that Hawys admits is the toughest part

·      Phase 2 takes cadets out to sea, where they gain as many onboard days as possible

·      Phase 3 is back at college for advanced course on topics such as navigation and stability

·      Phase 4 is back to sea where you must complete whatever is remaining of the required 12 months of sea days – Hawys completed 8 months in her second stint

·      Phase 5 -  where Hawys is now, is a final burst of intensive short courses that bring everything together

Reflecting, Hawys has appreciated the structured learning approach, “At the start, certain topics and aspects felt daunting, however after spending 2 months at sea, it really puts it into practise, and suddenly everything begins to make sense and splice together.”

A Career Inspired by a Family Connection

Hawys didn’t grow up knowing that a maritime career was an option. She had always been sporty with a passion for maths which helped her to gain an A level in both Maths and Sport Science. In 2022, whilst doing boat maintenance work for Captain Matthew Roberts [Matt], a family connection  (a maritime pilot who had gone through a cadetship himself) had asked Hawys if she had considered a cadetship, clearly seeing all the strengths needed in Hawys. When you meet her, you can’t help but be charmed by her humble dedication to the job. Matt inspired Hawys and helped to make her dream a reality.

Hawys loves outdoor sports such as hiking, kayaking, biking and snorkelling – combined with her strong numerical ability made her a perfect fit. “Being numerically able is useful – for calculating stability for example or centre of gravity as well as navigating by the sun and stars which all require solid math skills” she explains.

A Day at Sea

One of the most exciting aspects of a cadetship is the variety – no two days are the same. Hawys emphasis how her learning is “hands-on and tailored to give [her] exposure to every aspect of the job”.

During a shift you will complete tasks such as;

·      Deck maintenance: securing cargo, fixing anything that needs attention.

·      Watchkeeping: assisting the second mate learning about chart work, collision regulations and celestial navigation

·      Training record book: something that all cadets have is a book with a list of all essential tasks that must be achieved before progressing

This experience is invaluable “you’re not just studying – you’re living the job, learning from the crew and becoming part of the team.”

The Key to Success: Attitude, Resilience and Hard Work

When asked what advice she would give to aspiring cadets, Hawys doesn’t hesitate:

“Go in knowing it’s going to be tough. Show interest, because if you don’t, nobody will want to teach you, and this is the only way to learn. Your attitude matters – people are putting their trust in you when you’re on watch – you must be vigilant”.

Her humility and eagerness to learn have clearly made an impression. She talks fondly of captains who have invited her to their watch, letting her take the chair while they guided her through her decision-making process.

The People Make the Journey

For Hawys, it’s all about the crew. When asked about her favourite vessel in the fleet, she doesn’t name a specific ship. Instead, she talks about the crew, one of the oldest in operation. “The crew were immense. You eat together, work together, relax together – if you get along and they’re a good group of people it makes it so much easier and these guys really made it special for me.”

“…Towards the end of my sea phases, I remember sitting on deck playing my guitar, watching the sunset over the North Sea and having a moment to reflect on my journey so far – probably my favourite experience at sea so far.”

This camaraderie is a huge part of why she loves her career. The people you work with shape your experience and the mutual respect between her and the crew was evident when we visited her onboard the Putford Jaguar.

The Future is Bright – The Future is Green

Looking ahead, she is excited about the direction our industry is taking, “wind farms and SOV’s are our future. The move towards green energy and sustainability is where we’re headed and it’s exciting to be part of that.”

When asked if she could swap roles with anyone in the company for a day, she thoughtfully hesitates and then responds, “Captain. I want to see what kind of pressure they’re under so that I can better do my job knowing what they need from the crew”.

Given her dedication, enthusiasm and drive, there is no doubt that one day, Hawys Davies will be leading her own crew.

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