NAFC Busiest Ever
The NAFC Marine Centre is busier than at any time since it opened 22 years ago, with the most students being taught the most courses.
Demand for a wide range of courses from the fishing industry, aquaculture sector and shipping companies is at record levels.
And 51 secondary school pupils from around the islands regularly attend the centre in Scalloway for engineering and maritime skills courses as part of their studies.
“We are bursting at the seams, in the nicest possible way,” said NAFC head of training and skills Andy Glen.
“The place is buzzing with students and staff. Some days, frankly, it is difficult to get a space in the car park.
“Apart from the ongoing issue of funding, the biggest problem we have at the moment is meeting the demand for places and everyone is hard at work trying to do just that.”
The centre, which opened in 1994 and is now part of the University of the Highlands and Islands network, provides a huge range of services to the maritime industries, including research and development and consultancy and advisory support as well as education and training. It employs more than 40 people.
Including school pupils, more than 150 students from those starting out on their careers to those returning for further training are currently attending the centre.
A record nine young fishermen recently began their Class 2 ticket course, which lasts for three months and entitles those who pass to skipper fishing vessels of up to 30m and to serve as mate on board larger boats.
Groups of pelagic fishermen are also embarking on an ECDIS (electronic chart display and information system) course that allows them to navigate electronically rather than using paper charts.
The centre is also close to its full complement of deck and engineering cadets while a range of new aquaculture courses are being be rolled out this year.
They include fish farm containment (93 students already certificated), fish health (41 students certificated), water quality awareness (40 certificated and 40 more enrolled), advanced fish health (to begin in June) and biosecurity (to begin in May).
NAFC head of short nautical courses Mark Fullerton said: “We are the busiest we have ever been, not only in terms of numbers of students but in the range of courses that we are doing.”