A bright nautical future lies ahead for Kristen Greene.

He is just 22 but in the past four years he has worked on container ships, car carriers and natural gas vessels across the globe as well as completing a three-and-a-half-year course to gain his Officer of the Watch certificate at Warsash Maritime Academy in England.

The young man from St George’s began his maritime journey at the age of 13 when he completed a series of educational trips on the Spirit of Bermuda while studying at Bermuda Institute.

He continued to work on board the Spirit in various capacities through his teenage years before travelling to Warsash after graduating high school in September 2011 to embark on his maritime studies.

“Along the way I have had a lot of help through scholarships and other bodies,” Mr Greene said.

“I received the Adam Goodwin Scholarship award when I first started and later earned a three-year bursary towards my educational endeavours from Concordia Maritime Bermuda.

“I also received sponsorship from the Workforce Development Office.

“All of the help I have received along the way has been very important and much appreciated.”

During his time at Warsash, Mr Greene completed three overseas contracts on board a range of ships that took him across North and South America and through the Panama Canal.

He completed his Officer of the Watch Certificate in December 2014 and started an internship at North East Maritime Institute in Massachusetts while waiting for his first deep-sea assignment.

In October last year he secured his first job with the shipping firm Golar, which has offices in Bermuda and Norway.

“It has been a lot of work, but it has been very worthwhile,” said Mr Greene.

“The hardest part was getting a foot on the ladder and getting my first job.

“My first full-time contract with Golar took me to Malaysia and Singapore on the Golar Grand, and now that ship is in dry dock I am waiting for my next contract to come through.

“In the future I hope to increase my sea time and go back to school to get my Chief Mate qualification. After that I hope to work my way up to senior management in the area of logistics of shipping operations.”