The first ever UK Sea Ranger Bootcamp
This year, we held our first ever Sea Ranger Bootcamp in the UK, welcoming participants from across the country to experience the rigorous training and personal growth that define the programme. This milestone reflects our commitment to expanding internationally, inspiring a new wave of young recruits eager to make a difference for the planet.
Welcoming the first UK Sea Rangers
The first UK Sea Rangers were selected this year: Cariad Margetson, Isaac Mooney, Ted Artingstall, Molly King, Claudia Breet, AJ Berry, Harry Partridge and Amy Pedder. These young pioneers represent the start of an exciting new chapter for ocean work in the UK.
Seagrass restoration in six countries
With the establishment of a dedicated seagrass restoration team, the Sea Rangers’ work has expanded to other countries. Sea Rangers like Nathalie de Bruin, Rik Armando Ridder, Madelon Schellekens, Reiny Sangster, Ditmar van Poeteren, and Julia Nöth have been instrumental in restoring seagrass in the Netherlands, France and the UK, with seed collection and monitoring efforts carried out in Denmark, Germany and Spain.
Our new ship is almost finished
The new sailing work vessel for the Sea Ranger Service is nearing completion. After receiving funding for its construction last year, the construction project is nearing completion with the vessel entering service in 2025 after testing and sea trials. Stay tuned for news of an upcoming ship’s christening moment next year.
Work for The Crown Estate
In partnership with the Crown Estate, Sea Rangers conducted wildlife monitoring in the Celtic Sea as part of a multi-year surveying programme in support of floating offshore wind development. Studies have suggested more than 5,000 jobs could be created across the Celtic Sea region in the offshore wind sector, with Sea Rangers as the first new local recruits trained and deployed for such work.
Introducing Senior Sea Rangers
The experience in our teams continues to grow, with Nathalie de Bruin, Claudia Breet and Cariad Margetson stepping into the role of Senior Sea Rangers. Their journeys reflect the power of passion and simply hard work. Next year they will be using their experience and learnings to guide new Sea Ranger recruits.
New faces in the team
This year, we also welcomed new staff members to our team: Mariam Bidzinashvili as Communications Coordinator, Martijn Koopal as Legal Officer, Megan Eden as Operations Assistant and George Turner as Bootcamp Leader UK. Their expertise strengthens our capacity to achieve our mission and grow as an organisation.
Recognition in the House of Lords
The Sea Ranger Service’s work gained special recognition at the House of Lords in November; celebrating the organisation’s innovative approach to ocean conservation and youth development. The prestigious acknowledgment from Lord Teverson and Lord Randall highlights the growing impact of the Sea Ranger Service mission and the importance of empowering young people to choose maritime trades, in combination with nature restoration.
Looking ahead to 2025
The upcoming year is shaping up to be another exciting chapter for the Sea Ranger Service. We are thrilled to announce two Sea Ranger Bootcamps in early 2025. Applications are already open for the Sea Ranger Bootcamp in the Netherlands, taking place from February 7-14, while our Sea Ranger Bootcamp in the UK, happening from February 28 to March 7, will open for applications on January 2nd.
We couldn’t achieve any of this without the incredible support of our partners, collaborators and the wider Sea Ranger Service community. Your belief in our work drives everything we do. Thank you for standing with us as we continue to grow and scale our impact. Here’s to an inspiring year ahead – Go Sea Rangers!
