Joshua Gonsalves is realising a childhood dream as Fremantle Ports’ first maritime trainee.
The former Mandurah Senior College student and keen fisherman decided at age 11 he wanted to be a skipper on a charter boat. After finishing Year 12 last year, he completed a four-month deck cadet course at Challenger TAFE. He applied for the traineeship after Fremantle Ports’ Manager Marine and Port Operations, Captain Allan Gray, addressed the TAFE students.
Allan said Fremantle Ports was sponsoring a trainee to contribute to the maritime industry.
“Ports are the end-users of maritime skills and as there is a huge shortage of skilled mariners we wanted to encourage young people into the industry,” Allan said.
Joshua received a week’s induction at Fremantle Ports and then went to sea for four months on a BP ship.
“Thanks to Fremantle Ports’ close cooperation with BP Shipping, I was able to approach Captain Brett Whiteoak about taking Joshua on board the British Fidelity, which works around the Australian coast,” Allan said.
“Fremantle Ports will reimburse Joshua’s TAFE fees and will give him the opportunity to go into the new port-pilot training program at Challenger TAFE.”
Fremantle Ports is seeking to provide additional maritime traineeships in the coming years.
Fremantle Ports' first maritime trainee
