Safeguard Engineering proudly celebrate Jo’s journey from the seas to First-Class Honours!

After 16 years with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and experience as a deputy Technical Superintendent with Defence Equipment & Support, Jo Gormely joined Safeguard Engineering in July as a Maritime Overseer.

Despite her extensive experience and marine engineering qualifications, Jo decided to embark on a degree journey with the Open University in 2016, in preparation for a career ashore. Her goal was to continue her continuous professional development (CPD) and extend her knowledge into a widely recognised qualification.

Jo’s coursework spanned Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Nanoscale Engineering and Environmental Sustainability. Her impactful final dissertation focussed on the environmental considerations of passenger vessels on Lake Windermere, exploring a conversion from Diesel Engine Propulsion to battery power, charged via the national grid. After much hard work, Jo is delighted to recently learn that she’s been awarded a First-Class Honours Degree in Engineering!

In addition to pursuing her academic achievements, Jo was also recently invited by the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society to participate in an event for local Sixth Form College students in the Liverpool City Region. 

The ‘Maritime Heritage – Maritime Futures’ project aims to engage young people with the history of the port and the work that goes on around it and the local marine environment, while also introducing them to the challenges of the maritime sector to meet the challenge of net zero by 2040.

Over the course of the year, local students, each studying STEM qualifications, will design a model vessel to transport the greatest number of water barrels across Salthouse Dock in Liverpool at the lowest cost and with the least negative impact on the environment. As a strong advocate for maritime heritage, Jo was invited to work with the students to share her experience and knowledge of the Danny to explore topics like construction, materials, cargo capacity, propulsion, and environmental impact of multiple vessel configurations.

We’re immensely proud to have Jo as a member of the Safeguard Engineering team. Her outstanding accomplishments, both personally and professionally, are truly commendable. Well done Jo!