Sailing Volunteers
Sailing volunteers are taken on a basis of aptitude, enthusiasm and skill they demonstrate to the professional crew on board. We would always recommend coming and sailing as a trainee. If that’s not possible, volunteering as an AVC (Additional Volunteer Crew) during maintenance periods and short delivery voyages will give you the opportunity of working on a tall ship and seeing if it suits you. This opens a pathway to becoming recommended by our Permanent Crew and invited back as an AVC, Deckhand or a Watch Leader.
Additional Voyage Crew (AVC): This role is for individuals interested in becoming a Deckhand/Watch Leader but have not yet sailed with us, or don’t have enough experience, allowing Professional Crew for assessment and recommendations. AVC roles may include Day working or Watchkeeping, based on individual interests and voyage requirements. AVCs interested in watch keeping may be termed “Assistant Watch Leader” or “AVC Watchkeeper” and will shadow a Watch Leader. Those aspiring to be Deckhands may use the term “AVC Deck,” indicating the need for additional training and supervision. This category also includes Assistant Engineers/Volunteers interested in learning more about engineering, termed “AVC Eng.”
Deckhand: This role may be given to those showing potential to be Watch Leaders, needing more experience aloft before supervising in Sail Training Evolutions, or to those already deemed competent as Watch Leaders. Must have received a Professional Crew Recommendation on a previous voyage. Deemed competent aloft to a level not requiring direct instruction for general sail. New or returning Deckhands should join aim to join the vessel at least 24 hours before trainees for appropriate training and assessment.
Watch Leader: Primary responsibilities include ensuring their Trainees adhere to the ships’ routine, ensuring timely trainee attendance for watch duties, monitoring trainees on the Helm, and assisting with Trainee Supervision Aloft. They may also be required to assist the permanent crew in mustering trainees in emergency situations. Must have received a Professional Crew Recommendation on a previous voyage. Deemed competent aloft to a level allowing assistance in aloft supervision and sail handling. New or returning Watch Leaders should join the vessel at least 24 hours before trainees for appropriate training and assessment.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please complete the application form or email enquiries@pelicanoflondon.org
Maintenance Volunteers
As a Maintenance Volunteer, you will be an integral part of our team responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Pelican of London. Your diverse skill set will help us perform essential tasks that range from rigging sails to general maintenance activities.
Specific Duties include:
- Rigging Sails: we need individuals who are comfortable working aloft to rig sails.
- Rust Chipping & Painting: participate in rust removal and painting tasks to protect the ship’s structural integrity.
- Small Jobs: assist in fitting hooks, hinges, and other minor fixtures around the ship.
- Deck & Bulkhead Linings: help with the disassembly and refitting of deck head linings and bulkhead linings.
- Specialist Skills: if you possess expertise in tiling, plumbing, electrics, flooring, carpentry, or electrical wiring, your
skills will be put to excellent use. - Specialist Qualities: if you’re a seasoned engineer, carpenter, plumber, electrician, or rigger, we are excited to have
you on board. - General DIY Skills: assist in essential maintenance tasks such as cleaning, helping in the galley, managing incoming
goods, occasional local driving, and other requested duties. - Additional Skills: as a Maintenance Volunteer, you should have a practical mindset, impeccable attention to detail,
the ability to work both collaboratively and independently (under the guidance of the Permanent Crew), effective
communication skills, and adherence to safety protocols.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please complete the application form or email enquiries@pelicanoflondon.org
Scientist in Residence
Role and Responsibilities of Scientist in Residence:
Scientists in Residence (SiR) are volunteers on board TS Pelican of London and their role is to contribute in a positive way to the experience of trainees while also contributing to the sustainability of our operation through enhancing the ocean literacy of trainees. SiRs are invited to contribute their own ideas and activities within the broad theme of ocean-focused STEAMS* to the voyages and can draw on the STEAMS Handbook and Citizen Science portfolio for inspiration of topics and activities.
*STEAMS – Science Technology Engineering Art Math Sustainability
The main focus for trainees on Ocean Awareness voyages remains on sail training, and trainees engage with any STEAMS activities on a voluntary basis. Therefore, STEAMS education to enhance ocean literacy will have to be highly engaging, raising curiosity and perhaps also fun. Examples of typical SiR activities include:
- Outreach through formal engagement with trainees. SiRs will deliver a briefing to crew and voyage crew that outlines the nature of their planned outreach activities on board, and, if appropriate, also talk about outcomes or lead a rounding-up session towards the end of the voyage.
- Citizen Science data collection for organisations that actively promote ocean research and conservation. Examples include marine mammal surveys, recorded beach cleans and cloud observations, each of which is introduced with a briefing that includes aims, theory where appropriate, and what happens to the data.
- Outreach through hands-on STEAMS sessions on board, such as workshops that combine an exploration of theory and concepts (e.g. marine ecology, meteorology) with practice (e.g. sampling and examination of plankton, temperature/pressure/cloud observations).
- SiRs may conduct STEAMS experiments, observations or artistic practices in their own field of interest, as discussed and agreed with the Head of Science ahead of the voyage.
- Informal engagement with trainees in conservations, games and ad-hoc environmental explorations throughout the voyage, as opportunities arise. Examples include informal sharing of field of expertise or career aspirations, playing ecology or cloud ID card games (on board), adding a brief look at the growth on a harbour wall while waiting for a RIB ride or discussing the stars and planets in the night sky.
To facilitate STEAMS activities, some scientific equipment (e.g. plankton net, microscope, beakers, binoculars, ID books) are on board. Any additional equipment SiRs may want to bring on board must be agreed with the Head of Science, Dr Charlotte Braungardt (Charly, charly@pelicanoflondon.org)
Pelican of London expects every SiR to share the highlights of their STEAMS outreach activities and outcomes with Charly. This can take the form of a report, narrated PowerPoint presentation, short video, podcast, poem, poster or other format suitable for sharing on Pelican of London social media.
Media and stories are also welcome to be shared during the voyage with our marketing and social media manager or Charly. Citizen Science data collected on board should be made available to the relevant organisation, either directly (typically via an app) or through Charly.
The ship’s crew expect that SiRs are working on research, citizen science, outreach and reporting for between six and eight hours a day. For smooth and safe operations on board, the SiRs must discuss and agree the STEAMS programme with Charly ahead of the voyage, as well as:
- Agree any equipment, instrumentation, chemicals and other materials planned to be brought aboard for the purpose of research work with Charly and the 1st Mate ahead of the voyage (insurance responsibility lies with the Scientist in Residence or their institution).
- Agree any of the ship’s equipment, instrumentation and other materials to be used by the Scientist in Residence (insurance responsibility lies with Pelican of London).
- Take good care and responsibility for the equipment, instrumentation, books and all other materials used for scientific purposes during the voyage; report faults, damage or loss immediately.
- Undertake appropriate risk and COSHH assessments to be signed off by Charly.
- Take responsibility for safety during scientific activities – achieved through communication with the 1st Mate or duty officer of the watch.
Please maintain communication with Charly during the voyage for purposes of support, discussing and reporting data, and troubleshooting.
We wish you all the best and hope that you will have a great experience aboard TS Pelican of London, and that you benefit from this opportunity for personal and professional development.