Bermuda Sun - November 3 2006

He's helping to build character
B. Candace Ray
INTERVIEW/Chief Engineer Colin Kinsella
Spirit's chief engineer, Colin Kinsella, 32, was a young boy in Ireland when sailors visiting his parents' pub enthralled him with stories of life at sea.He studied marine and plant engineering at university, did a nine-month cadetship, gained his certification.

Mr. Kinsella is responsible for maintaining all the systems on board - electrical, air-conditioning, propulsion, hydraulic, sewage, fresh water, refrigeration. He applied for his current job over the Internet.

"I liked the idea of helping the young guys, giving them some sort of guidance," he said. "When I did my cadetship, I was 22 and everybody else on board the ship was a lot older…hard seamen, kind of rough on young kids coming up."

"I'm just trying to make it a little easier for them to have some sort of experience, to know what life at sea is like… in a more controlled and caring environment.

"The chief engineer said he's helping to build character. The comforts provided by a working ship's generator, for example, cannot be taken for granted.

"If the generator isn't working, nothing else is working," he said.And so he asks one boy to check the oil dipstick, points out the hoses to the reverse osmosis tanks and lets another student push the button that starts the engine.

"All their major concerns have come true, but they've dealt with them very well," he said of their seasickness, one-minute showers and minimal sleep.He added: "Sail training is much more rewarding than commercial shipping is. Commercial shipping is just like a job. Sail training is heartwarming."