Scarborough-born seafarer Alfie Allen has been named the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Officer Trainee of the Year 2025, receiving the award on Monday 2 February 2026 in London. The 20-year-old said the recognition “means so much” after early days with the Sea Cadets and a clear ambition to work at sea.

Perseverance got him through the door. At 16, Allen wrote 20 emails and letters to shipping companies; just one came back. That single reply led to a tour of the Hull–Rotterdam ferry and, crucially, a route map into a career many young Northerners rarely see up close.

He left home at 16 to enrol at South Shields Marine School. Four years of study and sea time later, he secured his UK Certificate of Competency in September 2025 - the key licence that turns trainees into watchkeeping officers.

A strong cadetship followed. Allen rotated through a large cruise ship, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, a container ship and a buoy tender. Joining an 8,000-passenger cruise ship at 18 was a test, he says, but the responsibility confirmed he was where he needed to be.

The annual MCA accolade recognises academic achievement, professional progress and leadership among Merchant Navy officer trainees. This year’s trophy was presented by Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather at the UK Chamber of Shipping President’s Reception ahead of the Annual Dinner at Grosvenor House.

Mather praised the dedication on show and the contribution of UK seafarers who keep trade moving. For ports along the Humber, Tees and Tyne, that contribution is felt daily - in fuel runs, container calls and the steady flow of goods that underpins local jobs.

Lars Lippuner, Director of UK Customer Service at the MCA, said Allen’s story shows the variety of routes on offer and encouraged more young people to consider maritime careers. It’s a message that resonates across the Yorkshire and North East coast, where steady, skilled work at sea still supports households.

The UK Chamber of Shipping also paid tribute, pointing to Allen’s resilience and the way he supported fellow cadets. The presentation drew in North East figures too, with South Shields Marine School principal Simon Ashton among those pictured with industry leaders at the event. Photo credit: UK Chamber of Shipping.

Now preparing to join the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Allen wants to shine a light on what he calls an “unseen workforce” - crews who keep shelves stocked and ports busy without much fanfare. For anyone in Scarborough, Hull or South Shields eyeing a similar path, more information is at https://www.careersatsea.org/careers/. Official photos from the presentation are available via the UK Chamber’s gallery: https://mcga.thirdlight.com/link/tzouw2xh4yu9-6m7h7h.