Maritime Staff

Mark is Curriculum Leader for Maritime Studies at UHI Orkney and has been at the department since its near closure in 2011.

Mark's background is in Yachting, Community Project Development and he is a Sailmaker.

He is a qualified RYA instructor for Advanced Powerboat, Shorebased Navigation (Yachtmaster) and VHF. He also holds a commercially endorsed Advanced Powerboat Skippers ticket.

Mark also teaches several STCW courses, Traditional Sailmaking, Schools courses and Hydrogen Crew courses.

He also writes textbooks on health and social care policy and law.

Mark enjoys playing music, maritime ropework/sailmaking, classic motorbikes and making clothes when time permits!

I was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Stromness attending Stromness Primary and Secondary Schools.

After spending some years working south and abroad I returned to Orkney doing various jobs and running two businesses. I live just outside Stromness with my wife. Our two boys are studying and working and I have been part of the team at the Stromness Nav school since 2012.

I teach various STCW courses, the main one being Personal Survival Techniques; and I have the role of running and co-ordinating our RYA training courses.

• Maritime Training Administrator at the Nav School for over 10 years
• Cover the general day to day running of the office
• Much prefer dry land to the sea!
• Most days I'm accompanied by Louie the Frenchie...

Ron has been a Relief Instructor with the Nav School for over 10 years; as well as delivering First Aid training, is now working on new initiatives with young people.

As a qualified graduate teacher, Ron has worked across the education sector; he is also broadly qualified in outdoor learning activities, which includes coastal sailing, with experience on tall ships.

The outdoor education sector is like the marine industry, requiring a suitable first aid qualification. Thus, Ron has always maintained an industry level of qualification. However, he has served with Mountain Rescue, Ski Patrol, and HM Coastguard, all of which require a high level of first aid competence. He also qualified as a Scottish Ambulance Service Community First Responder.

David Leask - living in Finstown.

Career to date;

1985-2001 – Worked on Fishing Trawlers

2001-2006 –Owned and worked Creel Fishing boats around Orkney.

2006-2015 – Master ERRV’s in North Sea.

2015-2021 – Multirole Vessel Master in North Sea.

2021-Present – Multrole Vessel Master in Irish Sea.

Worked relief positions during leave periods on various Orkney Ferries, Pentland & Northlink Ferries.

2017 to Present worked with Northerly Marine Charter Vessels.

NAV SCHOOL

2012 to present during leave periods presented various Maritime Short Courses at Stromness Navigation Department both for Merchant and Fishing Students, e.g.

• Efficient Deckhand
• PSC & RB
• SAFETY AWARENESS
• PSSR
• FISHERMANS NEW ENTRANT HEALTH AND SAFETY
• FISHERMANS SAFETY AWARENESS
• STABILITY FOR FISHERMEN

Has been messing around in boats since 1980. A powered craft instructor and first aid instructor for decades and a diving boat captain since 2004.

Jon is an Industrial Chemist with over 25 years experience of working with catalysis and hydrogen processes. He is a proponent of low carbon hydrogen production from renewables, and was instrumental in the development of the global ‘first of a kind’ demonstration of an industrial scale prototype hydrogen economy in Orkney.

Jon currently splits his time between academic / skills / training and industrial advisory / due diligence work through his own successful business - Hydrojon Limited - supporting start ups, project developers, investors, and government agencies internationally.

Jon sits on the board of Hydrogen Scotland (formerly the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association) and is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.