Tall ships success for ABP apprentices
Five engineering and marine apprentices from Associated British Ports (ABP) Humber have returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip along the west coast of Britain in the UK’s biggest tall ships race, ABP says.
Niall Robson, Chris Huntington, Adam Wilson, Lucy Walker and Keeta Rowlands were given the opportunity to take part in the Apprentice Ship cup by ABP, which felt the race would help with their professional and personal development.
The ABP team sailed on the tall ship Bessie Ellen, the last wooden-hulled ketch sailing around the UK coast, on the final leg of the race between Glasgow and Liverpool.
They won the Apprentice Ship Cup tug of war, the Bessie Ellen won Apprenticeship Cup Ship of the Year and Lucy Walker won the Apprentice of the Year for the Bessie Ellen.
Over 300 young people from the UK, France, Ireland and the Netherlands sailed alongside professional crew on six tall ships between Liverpool, Dublin and Glasgow, before making their way back to Liverpool for the Apprentice Ship Cup gala dinner.
The event is designed to give apprentices the chance to develop their teamworking and problem-solving skills, as well as their self–confidence and leadership and communication skills.
The team were welcomed back to the Humber at a special reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber Councillor Anita Harrison.