Watermark, a maritime consultancy firm that is committed to enhancing industry standards, has recently revealed a new partnership with Marella Cruises.
The collaboration will primarily revolve around overseeing and managing Marella’s Cadet Program.
“Watermark has recently been engaged by Marella Cruises to do their Cadet Management. There’s a lot of interest in the UK cadet program as some well-established companies have lost their approval. Watermark is a new start-up, and it’s uncommon for a cruise line to choose a start-up for such an important contract,” said Captain Alex Downes, director of Watermark.
“The UK’s cadet program has long been recognized as a cornerstone for developing the future leaders of our industry,” Downes continued .”However, recent trends show that it’s increasingly being leveraged for tax incentives rather than focusing on the cadets themselves—the very individuals who will shape the industry’s future as Masters, Chief Engineers, and C-suite executives.”
He elaborated on the problems that cadets are experiencing, noting: “Unfortunately, we’ve observed an alarming number of cadets facing delays in their studies or being dropped by management companies altogether. This not only disrupts their career paths but also threatens the future of the industry.”
With this collaboration, Watermark aims to provide the necessary support and introduction for today’s cadets to succeed in the maritime industry, according to Downes.
The partnership is expected to establish new benchmarks in cadet management, highlighting the significance of investing in the future leaders of the maritime industry.
