Help save the oceans with the Sea Ranger Service, which is bringing paid-for marine conservation training for young people to the UK. No previous experience required!
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Ever fancied a life on the high seas helping to save the oceans, but not sure how to get into it? Well, the key to your sea legs could be the Sea Ranger Service, which is commencing operations in the UK for the first time this year.
Launched in 2016, the Sea Ranger Service is a Dutch social enterprise that works with government agencies to manage ocean areas and conduct research and eco-system regeneration work. Its two prime missions are to restore one million hectares of ocean biodiversity by 2040 whilst training 20,000 young people towards a maritime career. And that’s where you come into the picture!
The enterprise is launching operations in the UK and is searching for suitable candidates between the ages of 18 and 29 to undergo paid training in marine monitoring, research and conservation projects. Those selected will set out on a sailing expedition and afterwards get a full-time position as a Sea Ranger.
Sailing the seas working on conservation projects sounds like a pretty dreamy prospect, but to be selected as a full-time Sea Ranger you first have to pass the SRS Bootcamp, during which participants are tested on their motivation, teamwork skills and learning abilities.
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If you’re one of the eight successful Bootcamp attendees, however, your future work with the Sea Rangers includes things such as climate research, restoring seagrass, monitoring protected sea areas and using drones and underwater robots to collect data on the ocean environment, all of which are essential for protecting our oceans, which are vital for our existence as they generate the majority of the oxygen we breathe, help regulate climate, and are home to much of the Earth’s biodiversity.
Vera Hoogenberg, one of the Sea Rangers selected from a previous Bootcamp, said: ‘I was a bit lost, so I wanted to join the Sea Ranger Bootcamp to rediscover who I am. It was a fantastic experience. I got to know my strengths and weaknesses very quickly and it was great for my development and self-esteem.’
The first UK Bootcamp will begin on 1 March 2024 in Port Talbot, Wales, where the Sea Ranger Service ship will be based. There is no cost for the Bootcamp and there are places for a maximum of 30 candidates available, eight of whom will be selected to join the Sea Ranger Service for a six-month period.
Sea Ranger Service founder and CEO Wietse van der Werf said, ‘After spending time working as an engineer on ships in Antarctica, I knew I had to take action to protect our oceans. We are very excited to bring our unique service to the UK seas and coastal areas. I look forward to meeting the new candidates who share our passion for the environment and are motivated to become the next set of Sea Rangers.’
Candidates must be aged 18-29, physically fit and able to swim to be accepted into the Bootcamp, but do not otherwise need any specific training or previous sailing experience before applying. Registration opens on January 10, 2024; open days will be held in Port Talbot and Neath on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February, respectively.
For more information or to apply for the Bootcamp, sail on over to the Sea Ranger Service website.
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