The man in charge of the Bermuda Sea Cadets has appealed for funding to ensure the group's survival.

Speaking at a meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club, Lieutenant Commander Dwayne Trott appealed for help for the organisation. "In order for us to survive we require funding," he said.

"Our biggest challenges right now are infrastructure, uniforms, officer training and support volunteers."

Mr. Trott highlighted disrepair in the Sea Cadet building at Dockyard, saying that due to hurricane damage and its age, it was in need of extensive repairs.

"We are thinking that to get that building functional again will cost somewhere in the region of one hundred grand," said Mr. Trott.

He added that the building will need to have its plumbing and electrics replaced as well as several "structural cracks" repaired.

And Mr. Trott said that the Sea Cadets was not the type of organisation that would just sit back and let others do all the work. He said that the Cadets had already got to work gutting the interior of the Dockyard building.

"We want to make this a community project, we don't want to stick our hands out and just ask for money. We want to keep the kids and officers involved."

The next issue covered by Mr. Trott was the Sea Cadets' expensive uniforms. He said that his uniform alone cost more than $1,000.

Uniforms, said Mr. Trott "are the most expensive thing on our books", adding: "Just imagine getting them for fifty kids," he added.

According to Mr. Trott, officer training was a problem because most of the officers in the Sea Cadets have full-time jobs, it is nearly impossible for them to go away for a two week training course without cutting into their vacation time.

"It is another expensive undertaking but it is something that we are working toward. I think that it is important to keep training and retraining officers every few years."

Finally, Mr. Trott laid out four goals he has set for the Bermuda Sea Cadets.

He said he wanted to "increase membership by 25 percent, have specially trained staff, increase fund raising efforts by 25 percent and increase public awareness about the Sea Cadets".