MLOCS alumni Joe Douglas and Calum Wright aboard Cunard’s brand-new ship ‘Queen Anne’

Two former Maritime London Officer Cadet Scholarship (MLOCS) cadets are working on Cunard Line’s brand-new ship, ‘Queen Anne’. Second Officer Joe Douglas and Third Officer Calum Wright worked at the Fincantieri shipyard during the build project in Marghera, Italy and are now part of the inaugural Bridge Team as the ship sails on its maiden season.

Joe, left in photo, was a MLOCs cadet at Warsash Maritime Academy between 2015-2018, sponsored by JLT Specialty and sailed on board the Irish Lights vessel ‘Granuaile’, Windstar Cruises ‘Windsurf’ and P&O Cruises Ventura & Aurora. Once qualified, he has worked for Stena Line and Windstar, before returning to Carnival UK and working on a variety of ships in the P&O Cruises and the Cunard Line fleet.

Calum, right in photo, was a MLOCs cadet at Warsash Maritime Academy between 2016-2019, sponsored by London Offshore Consultants. He sailed on board the UASC container vessel ‘Al Bahia’, Fred Olsen’s ‘Balmoral’ and the British Antarctic Survey ‘Ernest Shackleton’. He has since worked as Mate for Wightlink and Third Officer on board P&O Cruises and the Cunard Line ships.

Both former Maritime London cadets are now working together on the same watch on board Queen Anne. The ship was recently named in Liverpool, the god parent being the City of Liverpool and captained by Cunard’s only female Master, Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge. The ship is completing a number of voyages of Northern Europe before setting sail on a world voyage in January 2025.

Tony Vlasto, Chairman of MLOCS Trustee Board, said: “I do hope this excellent message from Joe and Calum will encourage other cadets past and present to post as well. Meantime congratulations to both of them and how proud we are to have played a part in their professional development and careers!”

MLOCS is a charity to raise funds to support training of British seafarers. You can donate funds to support MLOCS at https://www.justgiving.com/MLOCS