Academy to new heights Galileo Maritime Garrod Hutchison steering

Garrod Hutchison is a Chief Engineer with over 45 years’ extensive and varied engineering experience. His interest and passion in engineering goes back to his early teenage years growing up in Suffolk, England. His grandfather had been a very clever and innovative engineer, who when retired became somewhat of an amateur inventor and had built an engineering workshop in his back garden. Many happy hours were spent as a teenager learning from his grandfather how to use a variety of both hand and machine tools to make and fix all sorts of devices. Together they would build interesting projects like model boats and steam engines.

Garrod joined the Sea Cadets aged 13 and enjoyed all the activities it offered. He learned, seamanship and how to sail. His first taste of life at sea came at age 15 in 1974, when he was part of a small group of nationwide Sea Cadets specially selected for a Mediterranean cruise on the Educational Schools Ship SS Uganda. Here he was given his first opportunity to work alongside ship’s engineers.

Garrod joined the Royal Navy in 1981 as part of their Direct Entry Artificer* scheme in which Engineering Technicians from industry who had completed an Apprenticeship and had attained the required technical and academic qualifications were encouraged to apply. Following a rigorous selection process, Garrod was accepted into the Royal Navy. After completing basic training, he began 18 months of intensive Marine and Electrical Engineering training at HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood.

*Artificer is the Naval term for Technician, from the Latin word Artisan meaning person of skill

Garrod joined the fleet in 1983, his first ship was the Assault Ship HMS Fearless. During his time on Fearless, he passed for Artificer 2nd Class and also saw active service in Lebanon in 1984, when Fearless was supporting British troops ashore in Beirut.

In 1985, Garrod was selected for service on Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia and after passing the selection procedure, joined her for the Queens tour of Australia and New Zealand. This was a trip that was interrupted, as a civil war had broken out in South Yemen, when Britannia was on passage in the Red Sea. For the first time, Britannia was tasked by the British Government with an operational role, evacuating British and foreign civilians from the war-torn country. In total, rescuing over 650 people of 44 nationalities. For his part, Garrod received a commendation from British Ambassador of South Yemen and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Soon after this followed the historic tour of China by the Queen and Prince Phillip in 1986, the Queen becoming the first and only British monarch to set foot on the Chinese mainland.

Britannia’s unofficial motto of ‘Unobtrusive Excellence’ is something Garrod has taken with him and maintained throughout his career particularly in the Superyacht industry.

Garrod was promoted to Chief Petty Officer 1st Class, Marine Engineering Artificer in January 1987, one of only a handful of engineers ever to get their Chief's “ticket” on Britannia. In the same year he was registered with the British Engineering Council as an Incorporated Engineer.

Following promotion, Garrod joined the Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering as a Technical Instructor, teaching engineering to Naval Mechanics and Artificers. During this period, he studied and gained a professional teaching qualification in Further Education. He was awarded the Herbert Lott Naval prize in 1990 for the design and implementation of a training program for Naval Engineering Apprentice Artificers. He went on to serve at sea on HMS Intrepid and HMS Bristol as part of the Apprentice Training Staff.

Garrod took full advantage of the adventure training that the Navy offered, qualifying as a scuba diver and completing RYA Powerboat and Yachtmaster qualifications at the Joint Services Sailing School. He also undertook a number of ocean passages on their Nicholson 55 sailing yachts.

On leaving the Royal Navy 1993 after 12 years of successful service, Garrod spent nine years in the Asia-Pacific region as a Chief Engineer and later Project Director on a number of engineering and major construction projects. During his time in Papua New Guinea, Garrod was appointed as the Honorary Correspondent to the British High Commission for Milne Bay Province. The newly appointed British Ambassador for Papua New Guinea being the same Ambassador he had helped rescue from the beaches of South Yemen 10 years earlier! During this period Garrod also gained additional professional qualifications in Power Plant Management and studied advanced Project Management in Minnesota, USA.

In 2003, Garrod was tempted by an offer to return to sea in the Superyacht Industry. He went on to serve as Chief Engineer on a number of vessels including a 70m expedition yacht and both new and classic superyachts. By far the greatest challenge but most interesting and rewarding was his time as Chief Engineer on Motor Yacht Istros, a classic Feadship built in 1954. Istros maintained her original Crossley HRN6 Reversing Engines complete with Telegraph Controls. Garrod’s love of real ‘hands on’ engineering was certainly put to the test on Istros. It was not a yacht whereby you could call the main dealer whenever there was an engine problem. Crossley had gone out of business in the 1970s and there were no commercially available spares. Engine maintenance were carried out by the yachts engineers and many parts had to be repaired or made. In 2011 Istros won the Concours d’élégance trophy at the Monaco Classic Yacht show.

During his time in the yachting industry Garrod qualified as a Marine Engineering Surveyor and an ISM and ISPS Auditor with Lloyds. He also designed and implemented a software-based Maintenance Management System specifically for the yachting industry that was successfully used on a number of superyachts.

His last position before joining Galileo was as Fleet Chief Engineer managing the engineering operation of a fleet of five Superyachts based on a remote Pacific Island.

In addition to being a very practical and hands-on engineer, Garrod is a specialist in machining processes, repair methodology and maintenance management. He has extensive knowledge and experience of managing major engineering projects, refits and the technical management of Superyachts. As an independent consultant Garrod has assisted yachts in the process of transferring from Private to Commercial status, writing and developing International Safety Management (ISM) systems and training crew in all respective procedures.

Garrod joined Galileo in October 2020 with the aim of expanding the engineering facilities and courses. He currently teaches the MCA Approved Engine Course AEC1 course and is at present working on the syllabus for the delivery of AEC2. He created and teaches the three-day “Introduction to Marine Engineering Course” designed specifically for students wishing to gain preliminary knowledge before embarking on the AEC1.

For captains, owners and crew of smaller yachts, Garrod has recently developed a course specifically aimed at vessels under 24 metres. The course is for those not necessarily wanting to become engineers but who do want a much more detailed and better understanding of the engines, generators, electrics and systems on board. In addition, the knowledge to help reduce costs by having a better understanding of managing the change from reactive to preventative and predictive maintenance. There is no prerequisite engineering knowledge required for this course, everyone is welcome. The courses are flexible and designed to meet your needs and requirements.

Galileo has a very well equipped and expanding engineering workshop with a wide range of displays and examples demonstrating principles that students learn in the classroom. These include static engines where students practice a wide range of maintenance procedures as well as carrying out complete engine disassembly and inspections as required by classification societies. There is a fully functional running engine, specifically set up to indicate a number of typical fault conditions whereby students can learn and improve their fault-find-

The objective for Galileo Engineering School is very clear: to be the best in the industry and to offer all courses from the first steps of the AEC1 up to the academic courses required for MCA Small Vessels Chief Engineer. Future courses will include: Marine Diesel Engineering, Auxiliary Equipment, Leadership and Management, Statutory and Operational Requirements, Applied Marine Engineering. Galileo wants to be a student’s first choice when looking for a Marine Engineering School. Through its expertise gained from years of experience, Galileo teaches much more than just what is required to pass an exam. The Academy wants students to leave feeling they have gained a knowledge and understanding that gives them confidence to work at sea. Many of Galileo’s students have gone on to successfully work in the yachting industry. Galileo remains in contact with its alumni, offering help and advice, following their careers and actively en- ing and diagnostic skills. Students also get to practice the skills they learn in the engine room onboard the Academy’s Motor Yacht Galileo. couraging them back to Galileo to attend future career progression and refresher courses.

Garrod is currently working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to create an international qualification for Workshop skills. Galileo recognises that there are many younger students wanting to become engineers in the industry who have not had the experience of practical hand skills, in fitting and the correct use of tools. The Workshop Skills courses aim to provide students with a professional qualification demonstrating they have gained the skills required to become a Small Vessel Engineer and meet MCA standards. In addition, Galileo will offer an advanced Level 3 workshop skills and machining course. This course will be aimed at engineers wanting to take their workshop skills to the next level.

What is an MCA Small Vessel (SV) Engineer?

The definition of a Small Vessel is one that is less than 9000 kW Engine Power (12,000 Horsepower) and less than 3000 Gross Tonnes. The MCA Small Vessel Engineer was introduced in 2017 to replace the existing ‘Y’ Certificate of Competence which was specifically for Yacht Engineers. The SV now includes the following types of vessels: Yachts, Tugs, Workboats, Fishing Vessels, Standby Vessels, Seismic Survey Vessels, Oceanographic Research Vessels, Government Patrol Vessels. Full details may be found in Marine Information Notice (MIN) 524 at www.gov.uk