A former student from Fleetwood Nautical Campus at Blackpool and The Fylde College has been honoured with a top award at the Oil and Gas UK awards dinner.

Mark Arnold is a young master mariner employed by North Star Shipping, a division of The Craig Group. Believed to be one of the UK’s youngest master mariners, Mark, 26, fought off stiff competition to clinch the Oil and Gas UK Award for Overall Excellence. The award recognises outstanding achievement by young people working in the UK offshore oil and gas industry.

Captain Arnold is master of the North Star Shipping managed vessel the Grampian Explorer, a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) working in the North Sea on contract to Marathon Oil. He is responsible for the overall management of the vessel and its 12-strong crew.

Mark was delighted with the win, saying:

“Winning this award has been a fantastic experience and the support I have had from my family, North Star Shipping, Craig Group and everyone onboard my vessel has been wonderful.

“I would like this award to act as an inspiration to other young people as it proves that a career at sea is both fulfilling and worthwhile. It is vital that the North Sea oil and gas sector has a steady stream of cadets that can lead the marine industry forward into the next generation.”

At the age of 26 Mark is believed to be the youngest Master Mariner to take control of a platform supply vessel in UK waters – a highly responsible role normally afforded to people in their 40s.

He began his career at 17 when he signed up to the North Star Shipping cadet training programme and trained at the Nautical Campus in Fleetwood from September 2001.

Jonathan Ward, Curriculum Leader for the Cadet Training programme, taught Mark during his College days. He said:

“I’m so proud of Mark. It’s always lovely to hear about what former students have achieved since leaving the College and I’m really pleased that Mark has been so successful, both in receiving this award and accomplishing so much at a young age. Congratulations!”

North Star Shipping, a division of the Craig Group, one of Scotland’s oldest and most successful family owned shipping businesses, offered to sponsor Mark through this cadetship. This helped him to fulfil his dream of embarking on a seagoing career, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who owned and mastered fishing vessels out of Scarborough. He was nominated for the award by Craig Group for his outstanding ability to drive both his own professional development, and that of his shipping cadets, plus for his contribution to improving the group’s safety and maintenance-management programmes.

Douglas Craig Chairman and managing director of the Craig Group was at the ceremony to support the young Captain. He said:

“Mark is an exceptional mariner and we are very proud of his achievements so far. He has already proved he is an outstanding leader and is very focused on his career. He is respected by his crew and is a highly motivated individual who ensures he maintains the highest standards of safety and service at all times. His willingness to teach other young cadets and pass on his experience is testament to his commitment to his profession. We are delighted that he has been recognised for all his hard work for the company.”