Ferry Master

Not many people could describe their working environment as a moving oil painting, but ferry master Shannan Bryde says it’s exactly that.

A view of the Harbour Bridge or the Parramatta River is all part of a day’s work for Bryde.

“It’s fantastic being outdoors. No day is the same, there is always something going on,” Bryde says. And even when the weather isn’t so flash, he still says it beats working in an office. Bryde started working with Sydney Ferries as a deckhand in 1989 when he was 18.

He worked on Manly ferries for 10 years assisting the skipper, acting as a watch-keeper, and being responsible for vessels’ general cleanliness and upkeep.

But after a decade as a general purpose hand, Bryde says he was keen to jump into the driver’s seat — and he made it his mission to increase his skills and become a ferry master.

As a component of his training to become a master, Bryde had to complete a Master Class IV Certification and complete a significant number of hours of work experience, driving a vessel.

To get his driving hours up, Bryde left Sydney Ferries to work as a tugboat driver on the Harbour, where he stayed for about a year. He then returned to Sydney Ferries, taking up a master’s job with his old employer after he had completed all of the qualifications he needed.

Bryde also has a MED (marine engine driver) Certificate III qualification which allows him to operate as master and engineer on Sydney Ferries’ vessels — including the RiverCats and HarbourCats, which do not carry an on-board engineer.

A big part of Bryde’s job is to be familiar with safety issues associated with driving some of the largest craft on the Harbour.

Staff undergo regular training including emergency management, safe navigation, communications to support operational safety as well as firefighting, first aid and security training.

For three years, Bryde has worked as a relief ferry master, taking over various roles and routes when his fellow masters are on leave.

Bryde loves the variety of his job as a relief master and enjoys working with different crews and driving various vessels (there are seven classes of vessels in Sydney Ferries’ 31-strong fleet).

“Sydney ferries is a good place to work, it is a good career path and we have a beautiful harbour,” he says.

How to be … a ferry master
To be a ferry master you must complete a Master Class IV Certification. For further information contact Sydney Ferries on 131500 or visit www.sydneyferries.info