Offshore client representative Gordon Foot awarded Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service

14th September, 2021

Offshore client representative Gordon Foot has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service by the Department for Transport for his services to maritime career promotion. In recent years, Mr Foot has worked with ODE across offshore wind operations in the UK and Taiwan and provided continued representative support to clients throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Awarded to those exhibiting devotion to duty and exemplary service, this year’s 16 recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service were announced on Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September 2021. We spoke to Mr Foot about his award and career leading up to this achievement.

What are your responsibilities as an offshore client representative with ODE?

Ultimately my role is a vessel-borne senior leadership position representing the developer’s interests but there is so much more that goes into supervising a project asset and scope of work of this size and complexity. The heavy lift crane vessel is 183m LOA with a multinational crew averaging around 130 people conducting offshore engineering tasks. This main vessel sits within a marine spread of up to 10 vessels with up to 20 operating within the offshore wind farm site area. The responsibility to supervise across a large scope of work and across multiple varied disciplines in a dynamic environment is the real challenge.

As a 24/7 operation, we are a team working safely in a high-risk [controlled] environment as efficiently as possible. I am responsible for ensuring work is conducted in accordance with engineering specifications and agreed contractual obligations but, ultimately, that the whole operation is conducted safely. Engineering, human factors, psychologist, mediator, motivator and sometimes mother-hen: the responsibilities seem endless, just like the challenges and the fun.

Recipients of this prestigious award typically have 20 years of exemplary service in the Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets in the UK – what has been your career leading up to this award?

I entered the Royal Navy at age 17 straight from school, joined the submarine service and progressed through the ranks during the Cold War conducting covert operations globally. I gained my engineering skills and education along the way during a 19-year career. To my wife’s horror, when I retired, I returned to sea in the Merchant Navy in the offshore sector. I plied my trade as staff and then as a specialist consultant globally across oil and gas, environmental and renewables projects for the past 20 years.

As an advocate of life-long learning, I undertook, as a mature student, three self-funded Masters degrees along the way. I immerse myself with volunteering, assisting trade institutes and charities, mentoring and guiding others, schools outreach programs and giving back to the wider maritime community.

How does it feel to have been nominated by your colleagues for this award and to be one of only 16 recipients this year?

A most humbling experience indeed. To be honest, an event like this does of course lead to some serious self-reflection. The emails and comments across social media have helped me subdue the imposter syndrome within me but it is still quite daunting. I am truly grateful for the nomination and such wide support from across the maritime industry. A career of this length does not come without serious sacrifices though. I dedicate this award to my long-suffering wife and tolerant family. It is only with such selfless, undaunting support that I have been able to undertake such a varied and fulfilling career.

You received your award for services to maritime career promotion – how have you promoted the offshore wind industry and what does a career at sea offer for young people today?

I am a maritime ambassador for Maritime UK who work with the ‘Inspiring the Future’ national schools outreach program. I present to primary and secondary schools (currently virtually) to promote maritime careers. I come from very humble beginnings myself and I enjoy breaking down barriers, widening horizons and career expectations, promoting STEM subjects and women in maritime, and discussing diversity, inclusion, equality, and opportunity. I provide motivational guidance and proof that if you have a vision and a goal in life then anything can be possible. I inspire lifelong learning and provide counsel on the many routes into the maritime and wind industries, whatever your educational level or current achievement may be. I came from social housing at the wrong end of town with a mediocre inner city secondary comprehensive education; role models are as important to children today as they were for me in my youth to provide a vision of hard work, achievement and success in life.

The maritime industry presents an endless list of carer opportunities across freight/cargo, cruise & tourism, defence, research, environmental, search & rescue, engineering, ports, law, insurance, brokerage, NGO, autonomy (MASS), fishing, energy, law enforcement, compliance, catering, education & training, HSE, sustainability, big data etc.

Young people in the main are unaware that nearly every trade or job opportunity available on land is available in the maritime. I explain the subtle differences and provide information on the reality and sacrifices of this industry but also on the very worthwhile challenges and rewards available so that young people may make informed decisions for their futures.