All about me...

Well my name is Alistair Baillie and I was born in January 1985 in Scotland. After finishing high school I moved onto the University of Strathclyde where I started studying for a BSc/Hons in Software Engineering. Around the middle of my second year I decided it wasn't for me and changed to the shorter Computer Science degree, graduating the following year with a Batchelor of Science degree.

I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with myself and after a year working for Homebase I discovered the UKs Merchant Navy Cadetship program. I applied to several companies and was pleased to be accepted by Island Cruises.

I started studying at Warsash Maritime Academy in September 2006 on the Foundation Degree program. A few months later I, rather excitedly joined my first ship the Island Star out in Brazil. After a few months sailing the Brazillian coast we repositioned back to the Mediteranean and I returned to studying at Warsash 7 months later. 10 months of studying later I found myself flying out to join the Island Escape for 4 months and then returned to the Island Star for her final season with Island Cruises and spent it cruising around the Carribean.

I then returned to college for a few more months and gained my first Officer of the Watch CoC in September 2009, less than a month later I joined my first ship as a qualified officer, the small expedition cruise ship MV Minerva. I worked for 2 months as a 3rd officer and was fortunate to be quickly promoted to 2nd officer. While working onboard MV Minerva I was lucky enough to experience cruising to some amazing places including 3 months expedition cruising to the last untouched continent, Antarctica.

In January 2011 I decided it was time to move on and joined my second ship, Thomson Celebration as a 2nd officer. I remained with Thomson sailing as a 2nd Officer until I obtained my Chief Mates licence in 2013 after which I was promoted to Safety Officer.

I now find myself in October 2014 and after 3 contracts and 1 dry dock sailing as Safety Officer I think it's now time for yet another change.

So that's a quick sumary of my life so far - who knows what the future holds.