“I credit NAP with providing me with an excellent grounding in nautical archaeological knowledge, method and theory. While a student in the early 2000s, my fieldwork experiences ranged from the silty and fast-flowing Red River in Oklahoma to the sparkling shores of Cyprus and even the gloomy depths of the Gulf of Mexico. There were so many opportunities to get real-world experience to compliment the rigorous coursework. The teaching was excellent across the board and life-long friendships were formed – both between classmates and also with the faculty.

Collaborations between NAP and the Department of Oceanography made it possible to take courses in remote sensing and develop tools and techniques for deepwater archaeology. I also worked at the Offshore Technology Research Centre on campus for several years while a student – what an amazing place to work! From testing scale model oil rigs and tidal generation to ROVs and mini-submersibles – we were exposed to the latest underwater tools and techniques.

Soon after graduating I started working on the Newport Medieval Ship, a massive 15th century clinker-built vessel that was found in Wales. I have spent over 21 years working on the cleaning, recording and conservation of the ship. The hull timbers are now dry and we are planning the reassembly and display. I reckon I will spend at least another decade working on this amazing ship!”