OFFSHORE FISHERY ASSOCIATION - Key Persons
Andrew Reid has been working on Ocean Choice vessels for 10 years, 8 of those years as Chief Engineer on different vessels within the company's fleet.
"Working in the fishing industry is an extremely interesting career. Every day is different; every day is a new challenge. While I have worked on other vessels such as oil tankers and supply boats, I have always gravitated back to the fishing industry. I started in the industry as a young boy working with my family - I guess this is where my love for the fishery and industry got started," explains Andrew.
In 2019, his day-to-day work has been even more unique than his time at sea. He's accepted the position as Chief Engineer on Ocean Choice's new Green Class vessel, MV Calvert. Andrew is one of many employees of Ocean Choice, and local companies like C&W Industrial Fabrication, that are intimately involved with the new vessel under construction in Turkey.
Andrew is part of a team of people overseeing the construction to make sure everything is designed and placed appropriately so they can have the best possible vessel. Andrew explains why he's doing rotations on the ground in Turkey earlier than some might expect, "Some of the equipment that will be on the Calvert is equipment we have never seen before in the industry. So I'm also here to ensure I understand the new equipment and systems very well so they can be operated efficiently once the vessel is completed and we're fishing."
Reid explains there is a lot of new technology on the vessel that will make it more environmentally friendly, lowering its carbon footprint, increasing processing efficiency and reducing bottom impact. The vessel will be one of the most modern state-of-the-art groundfish vessels in the Canadian fleet.
Andrew, who lives in Coley's Point, NL, is certainly at home working in the fishery.
"Working in the offshore fishery came natural to me. My family comes from a long history of fishing. Most of my family are from Port de Grave, so we are a fishing family. My father is a Captain, my younger brother is an owner/operator and most of my aunts and uncles also work in the fishery - it truly is a family affair," he explains. "I am proud to be part of an industry and working in a position where I am learning new equipment and technologies - learnings that I can share and apply to the broader industry," says Andrew.
At only 32 years old, Andrew has 8 years experience as Chief Engineer and an impressive education. He studied at Marine Institute to become a Marine Engineer and later completed the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Technician program at George Brown college in Ontario via distance. He's currently completing the Electromechanical Technician program at George Brown as well. He says his education helped entice him to get involved in the new vessel and likely gave him an advantage when applying for the job because of his broad understanding of automation systems.
"I saw so many people have to pack up and move or work away for months at a time. They missed out on so much. So many have told me they regretted it, but they had no choice," Sean explains. "Because of Harbour Grace Cold Storage, I was able to stay in Newfoundland after the cod moratorium. Myself and my wife were able to raise our two boys here and still live at home today."
Plans began for Harbour Grace Cold Storage (HGCS) in 1992 and by 1994, it was built and operational. Sean has worked at the cold storage facility ever since. HGCS's business is 100% dependant on the offshore fishery vessels landing and offloading at the port in Harbour Grace. The company and its successes are a perfect example of the offshore fishery creating year-round employment on land.
When he started with HGCS twenty-five years ago, Sean worked as a Stevedore unloading seafood from the hole of ships. He later moved up to Safety Tally, then operated the forklift on the wharf and inside the freezer. He worked his way up to his current position of Lead Hand and he steps up as Foreman on days when the Lead Foreman is off work.
Besides a year-round job at home, Sean says his career in the offshore fishery means he can do what he enjoys in his free time as well.
"My house in Bristol's Hope is a 5-minute drive," he says. "When I'm not working, I can go camping, trouting, ATV riding or cutting wood. That's everything I need."