Salman travelled over 600 miles from Brixham to Peterhead to study at the Scottish Maritime Academy (SMA), in preparation for the next stage of his fishing career.

Twenty-six-year-old Muhammad Salman, known as Salman, is from near New Delhi in India. After three years in the Merchant Navy, he made the decision to come to the UK and pursue a career in the fishing industry.

He said, “One of my friends suggested I work on fishing boats in the UK. My first experience was very hard, but over time, it became easier.”

Salman has been a deckhand for almost five years with Coombes Fisheries and is based in Brixham when he’s working.

With a significant amount of experience at sea and the support of his Skipper, he felt ready to take the next step in his career and complete the Deck Officer Class 2 (Fishing) Certificate of Competency.

Becoming a skipper

Salman has enjoyed learning about the duties of a skipper during the 12-week course.

He said, “It’s a responsible job. You need to be able to make decisions very fast as it’s not only about you, but also about the vessel and the crew. The right decision at the right time could save lives – your attention needs to be fully on the job.

“When working as a deckhand, you don’t think much about stability or chartwork – you understand the basics and not much more. After studying these subjects, I can now easily find out what the situation is on board, and if I didn’t have digital equipment, I could still sail the boat.”

Studying at SMA

Salman chose to study at SMA after hearing good reviews from his friends and colleagues. He has also had a positive experience and appreciated the opportunity to meet fellow fishermen.

He said, “My classmates were very nice and good natured. I do beam and scalloping, but others do trawl, prawns and other things and by speaking to them, you find out more about the different types of fishing.

“The lecturers were good, and so were the simulator and facilities.”

Salman hopes to set an example for others.

“I would definitely recommend this course, and I already have to my brothers, who have worked as deckhands for many years. I want to inspire them and offer guidance so they can also become skippers.”

Future plans

After Salman finishes his written exams, he plans to complete ancillary courses such as firefighting and first aid. He will then need to sit a final oral exam before he can achieve the full Certificate of Competency.

He said, “My plan is to replace my Skipper as he is retiring soon. After working as a relief skipper for two or three years, I’d like to return to SMA to do the Deck Officer Class 1 (Fishing).”

Fishing courses at SMA

The Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead offers training for new entrants, as well as experienced seafarers who wish to progress to the next level.

Explore fishing courses