ONBOARD THE ARDMORE SEAFOX
Back to newsI boarded the Ardmore Seafox at the Thames port, and in the early hours of the following morning, we set sail. We left at two in the morning, which immediately set the tone for how different life on board is compared to life ashore. It was dark, quiet, and surprisingly calm. Shore lights lined the river as the ship moved steadily away, while most of the world was still asleep.
It was nothing like I had imagined. The bridge was almost pitch black, the lights were kept intentionally low, and everything felt quiet and focused. Outside, there was very little to see except darkness, and every so often another ship passing by, visible only through its red and green navigation lights. With no landmarks and no background light, those moments really stayed with me. By the time daylight arrived, land was already fading into the distance, and without really noticing the moment it happened, we were at sea.
Out at sea, the sense of space was completely different again. Passing offshore wind farms was one of the most striking sights of the whole trip. From land, they often look small and distant, but out there, they felt immense, with rows of turbines stretching across the horizon. It was a reminder that even when the sea looks empty, there’s far more happening than you might expect.
As I settled in and found my way around, the crew played a huge role in shaping my experience on board. The Third Officer spent a large part of his day patiently walking me through the equipment on the bridge and explaining how it’s used in practice. Nothing was assumed, and no question felt too basic, which made a huge difference to my experience. Between the Captain, Chief Officer, and Third Officer, every question I had was answered without hesitation.
The same was true in the engine room. The Chief Engineer and Second Engineer took the time to guide me through the spaces below deck, explaining how the ship operates day to day. I did not need to understand every detail to appreciate the scale of responsibility involved. The heat, the noise, and the complexity of the systems made it clear how much work goes into keeping everything running smoothly at sea.
Arriving in Foynes felt quite meaningful after days at sea. The shoreline slowly came back into view, green and familiar, as the ship made its steady approach. After leaving the Thames in the early hours and watching land fade away, arriving like this gave me a new appreciation for what it really means to be at sea, and for the reality of spending weeks or months on board, far from shore.
One of the things that most impacted my time on board was the generosity of the crew. From the start, they made every genuine effort to welcome me, check in on me, and ensure I felt comfortable. Despite their busy roles, they always found time to explain things, answer questions, and share their experiences. That openness turned what could have been an intimidating experience into something genuinely engaging and insightful.
By the end of the visit, what had changed most was my perspective. Working ashore, it is easy to view vessels purely through the lens of operations and performance. Being on board made it clear that each ship is a living, working environment, shaped by people, routines, and the reality of being at sea.
Experiences like this are an important reminder of what sits behind Ardmore’s operations performance. Safe, efficient shipping is not just about systems and processes, but about the people on board who bring them to life every day.
Special thanks to Kate Kelly for sharing her experience.