LOCAL resident Captain Robert ‘Cal’ Callahan has released a book entitled ‘The Small Vessels Manual’ to act as a training guide for the operations of small vessels in Australian waters.
Cal has spent a lifetime working on the water, beginning his career in 1969 when he joined the Navy serving in the clearance diver section.
Following his time in the Navy, Cal returned home to the Whitsundays where he opened a dive shop and began skippering a variety of vessels, including luxury yachts, barges and passenger vessels.
Cal has wide-ranging knowledge and skills in driving ships and, although he is now retired as an active marine pilot, Cal teaches regularly at the Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre.
“Originally Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) produced a Small Ships Manual that had been a mainstay of the nautical industry in Queensland,” Mr Callahan said.
“In 2010, the Small Ships Manual stopped being published by MSQ and there was a desperate need from the marine industry for the book to be re-published as a reference book but also a training manual for the registered maritime training centres around Australia.
“After completing the re-writing and updating the material, I renamed it ‘The Small Vessels Manual’.”
The manual is a contemporary marine safety guide that will benefit those involved in vessel operations, marine training, considering a career within the maritime industry, or anyone living, working on or operating boats such as bareboat charter companies.
It is a ‘must have’ onboard most vessels as a reference manual for all things nautical.
Mr Callahan has donated four books to the VMR for training purposes.
You can buy ‘The Small Vessels Manual’ through ‘Boat Books Australia’ or your local chandlery store.
