Kieran McDowell

Since emigrating to canada in 2023 i have been employed as an apprentice electrician for Irving Shipbuilding. In my time here i have worked on both the AOPS project and at the ship repair facility applying the skills and safety culture i have from my past shipbuilding experience as well as passing on this knowledge to other tradespeople in the shipyard.

Once qualified as a tradesmen i worked in multiple departments across the shipyard undertaking tasks such as fitting and terminating electrical equipment, using electrical drawings and diagrams to complete tasks to a high standard. I also spent time fabricating brackets and cable enclosures, running cables onboard the ship as well as as packing transits using roxtec/brattberg blocks. Spending time on the electrical maintenance crew led me to developing an understanding of trouble shooting and testing electrical systems. I also spent the last year of my time at BAE systems as an electrical chargehand, running a small crew of tradespeople working on the engine room of the submarine.

I started my shipbuilding career as an apprentice electrician, working on the nuclear submarine program for BAE Systems. I spent my apprenticeship attending college as well as learning the skills and knowledge needed from trades people to progress through my apprenticeship and qualify as a marine electrician at the end of the program.