Captain Iain MacKenzie reflects on nearly 40 years as a maritime professional, including 23 years serving on Nautilus International's Council where he is now vice chair, and a career that kicked off in on the west coast of Scotland as a ferry carpark marshal.
What originally attracted you to a career in maritime?
I grew up on Lewis, an island on the west coast of Scotland and travelled on the ferries to and from the mainland. The crew seemed to be a happy crowd.
I initially started work in 1989 in a shore role as a carpark marshal to the smaller fleet that operated in categorised waters around from the Isle of Skye, and progressed to chargehand being responsible for the crew, the vessel and passengers. After a bridge and two causeways were built, this meant no need for ferries, so I decided to accept the offer to move to the major fleet and start at the bottom of the ladder again - less chance of a bridge or causeway being built in open waters.
I left the company briefly when they started to build the Skye bridge [a road bridge over Loch Alsh, Scotland, connecting the Isle of Skye to the mainland via the island of Eilean Bàn] but I returned to CalMac Ferries in March 1993 and have been here ever since.
So, I worked my way through the ranks in a sort of traditional way to becoming an officer – following the rating to officer route. This still required college time to gain the first certificate of competency (CoC) and from there on it was the mix of traditional sea time followed by college to gain chief officer and then master CoC.
Do you have any personal or family connections to maritime careers?
My father was a merchant seafarer who brought some amazing and strange things home from his travels around the world.
Tell us some of your career highlights so far
Way too many to list here. Apart from gaining qualifications and promotions along the way, being active in the Union and meeting some influential people, the main highlights have been helping and encouraging others to develop and progress – then seeing them shine.
What have been some of your biggest career challenges?
The biggest challenges were progressing through the different ranks; moving from decision making roles [in one career path] to starting officer training and being in lower ranks on a different class of vessel where you had a superior who was responsible for instructing and directing. It is always easier to go forward than it is to go back, but always believe in yourself, follow your dreams and never let someone tell you that you can't achieve something.
Who has helped you the most in your career, and why?
I have many people to thank for helping me get where I am today. Those who helped teach me, CalMac for supporting me through the different stages of training, Captain Norman Martin for encouraging me to become active in the Union and to continue to progress my career, and my family for their support.
How long have you been a member of Nautilus?
I joined NUMAST, as Nautilus was called, in 2002, when I first sailed as an officer after I qualified. I was co-opted to Council after the BGM in 2007.
Tell us about any voluntary positions you've held with Nautilus
I am the liaison officer for the masters sailing for CalMac Ferries and the vice chair of Council.
What are your plans for the future?
I am now approaching retirement, a daunting thought, but I have been fortunate to reach the role of master so a shore-based role does not appeal, at the moment.
Are you involved with any maritime volunteer organisations?
I have been a volunteer with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for nearly 30 years, starting out as crew, then helm and progressing to now manage the Kyle of Lochalsh Lifeboat Station.
Get Involved
If you, like Iain MacKenzie, are interested in becoming a Nautilus Council member, keep an eye out for advance notices of Council elections in the Telegraph. There are Council and General Secretary elections coming up in April 2026, so we will soon be seeking candidates and advising of the nomination process.
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