Hello and welcome to the web site dedicated to the British Merchant Navy Cadet Training Ships that operated during the period from the end of the Second World War up to the 1970s. This period, often referred to as the golden age of British shipping, saw an unprecedented number of young men undergoing training to meet what appeared to be an ever increasing demand for Deck and Engineer Officers.

Whilst many British shipping companies carried a small number of apprentices on some of their ships only a few operated cadet training ships in which apprentices replaced the normal deck crew and were the subject of a formal training regime as dictated by company policy.

The purpose of this site is to:

• Describe these cadet training ships and the companies that operated them;

• Provide an insight into the training that the cadets received; and

• Enable the cadets and those who trained, managed and worked with them to record and exchange anecdotes of this period in their lives.

Additionally, this web site provides a historical overview of:

• British Sea Schools; and

• National Training Policy.