News - 28/06/17

Ed Walker from Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales was appointed as Assistant Harbour Master at Cowes in May of this year, joining Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) after a seagoing career spanning 15 years throughout various sectors of the marine industry.

As Assistant Harbour Master (AHM), Ed is providing support to Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh and his Deputy Jon Kidd. Currently, Ed is assisting with an array of statutory responsibilities and after completing a comprehensive training programme will become our fifth licenced Pilot for the Cowes Pilotage Area. In order to become an authorised Pilot for Cowes Harbour a minimum of 60 training trips are conducted under the guidance of acting local Pilots on ships up to 150 metres LOA. 

He said: “I’m looking forward to the wide variety of my new role as AHM for Cowes, and looking at the marine environment from a completely different viewpoint as opposed to my last job. I enjoy living in Cowes and am getting to know my new home by exploring the Island.”

Ed began working in boatyards and on charter boats as a teenager and commenced his career at sea at the age of 20, working as a Deckhand aboard tugs with the Merchant Navy. He completed a cadetship in 2008 with an Officer of the Watch (OOW) Deck Certificate of Competence, choosing to then stay in the towage industry. Prior to joining CHC, his most recent posts were with towage and salvage company Svitzer Marine Ltd as OOW, Chief Mate and culminating as Master on board harbour tugs in Milford Haven, Bristol and Southampton. Ed also has several years’ experience with a UK marine health and safety committee and various working groups within the towage industry. Latterly, he was involved in the implementation of a new safety management system within Svitzer Marine

Sailing has been an important part of Ed’s life, mostly on dinghies but also racing small yachts. Back home in Pembrokeshire, he was a volunteer member of the Angle RNLI Lifeboat Station, which is situated on the busy Milford Haven Waterway, covering a large and busy shipping area at the southwest tip of Wales with a high amount of both commercial and leisure traffic. He started as lifeboat crew, and progressed to navigator after a couple of years. Ed has also worked in several family owned businesses, including as joint organiser of the annual Tour of Pembrokeshire, a two-day cycle event for sportive cycle riders.