There are not enough fully trained and qualified marine construction professionals in Bermuda.

Shipwright Stephen (Stavros) Walsh who manages Stavros' Boat Shop at Ships Wharf in St. David's said that "I have more work than I can possibly do.'' He currently has two Bermudians working with him but needs at least three more employees to cope with the increasing demand for his services.

He says that it is ironic that Bermuda, an Island with a strong maritime heritage, does not have a proper facility for training young Bermudians who are interested in the marine industry.

"There is a very definite need for qualified marine workers in Bermuda,'' said Walsh. "I am forced to hire my new employees from overseas but, I would much rather hire locally.'' Walsh feels that in a country surrounded by water, and where one in five residents own a boat, the community should be investing more in this particular industry.

"I would like to see an apprenticeship programme started in Bermuda,'' he said. "Local 16-year-olds finishing school could enrol in such a programme at a facility here or attend a teaching yard overseas such as that run by Elizabeth Meyer.'' Meyer is the owner of the J class yacht Endeavour which was in Bermuda this month for International Race Week.

Walsh had been in touch with representatives of the last government to get such a programme started at Stonington and would like to speak to members of the new government about his ideas.

"If we took one young Bermudian from each of the five or six local boat yards then we could put them all in a class and get this programme going. I love to teach,'' he said. "And would love to see local kids getting involved in this industry.'' How would he balance teaching with the demands of running his own business? Well, he hasn't figured that one out yet.

Walsh is presently working on the Cassiopeia , an all-wood Italian-built ketch dry-docked at Meyer Industries yard in St. George's.

He apprenticed under John Wooley at London Marine Services in Bristol, England and then took his Masters exams and was certified in 1986.

After obtaining his qualifications, Walsh worked in Europe with surveyors Lloyd's of London and Bureau Veritas. Some of the ships he has maintained have been owned by well-known names including Donald Trump, Princess Margaret, Thierry Roussel (the former husband of Christina Onassis) and Bill Schaeffer (the diver who discovered the priceless Ming Dynasty china).

Walsh came to Bermuda while employed as a ship's carpenter aboard the Fleurje owned by local oil magnate John Deuss. On completing his employment with the Fleurje , he opened his business on the newly available base lands.

He specialises in spar fabrication and awl grip spray painting but is engaged in building and maintaining a wide variety of craft, both classic and contemporary as required by his extensive clientele.

Walsh has been trained principally in the construction and repair of vessels dating from 1700 to 1900 and is a specialist in wood construction. He says that any local apprenticeship programme should also train people to work with more modern materials since there is obviously more demand for that nowadays.

Stephen Walsh: "If we took one young Bermudian from each of the five or six local boat yards then we could put them all in a class and get this programme going.'' SHIPPING SHI SAILING SLG