Former Harbour Master 'chuffed' with maritime award

Jersey's former harbour master said he was "chuffed" to be given the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.

The awards are given out on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, to mark the contribution of the UK's merchant seafarers and their role in supporting global trade, tourism and national security.

Captain Brian Nibbs, 87, has been given the award for his voluntary work in the maritime after a career as a seafarer which spanned five decades.

Nibbs said: "The news came by email and I thought this is fantastic but what have I done to deserve this? But it was for recognition of support of maritime charities and when I look back then I realised I'd enjoyed doing it."

Nibbs started his service in 1955 in Scotland as a cadet after leaving school.

He said: "I spent Christmas Day at sea during 10 days across the Atlantic with a Force 9 gale, which really got me into the way of seafaring."

Nibbs added: "I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was, you felt you were doing something purposeful... it was just an interesting job.

"I used to enjoy leaving Panama, then 19 days later you get to Sydney and having navigated entirely by the sun and the stars, and I don't think that's a joy that people can have nowadays because the GPS position is always there."

Nibbs was sworn in as Jersey Harbour Master in 1997 and held the role until 2004.

He said he remembered "very well" the Amoco Cadiz oil spill in 1978 when a super tanker ran aground off the coast of Brittany and said "luckily I'd just come back from a course so I had an idea what to do".

"We got dispersants coming over in large tankers, we took up fishing boats to act for spraying locally and I moved up to the airport for a fortnight because all the communications were up there with the UK," he added.

"We used to go up every day, fly along the edge of the approaching oil but luckily some very strong gales whipped it all up and it just missed us."

The award also recognised the work Nibbs has done supporting the maritime community which included help for the families affected by the fatal sinking of L'Ecume II.

Nibbs said the Jersey Merchant Seaman's Benefit Society was amended so money could be sent to the families of the victims of the sinking.

He said: "It didn't allow for us to give gratuities or donations to seafarers so we changed our rules so we could then support fishermen.

"I did speak to the daughter of the skipper, and they're just very grateful because it's a terrible thing but when life is lost there is no money coming in for the dependents."

Recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service will be presented with their medal in a state ceremony later in the year.

CEO of Merchant Navy Welfare Board Stuart Rivers said: "Each year we see the very best of the UK's maritime community recognised for their service."

He added: "This year is no different as we celebrate 11 recipients of the medal who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

"It's humbling to read the citations and see how these remarkable individuals have contributed to the sector and changed the lives of others for the better."

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