Photographing Charles Smith's 40-Year Milestone at Lerwick Port Authority
I was pleased to see one of my photographs used by Lerwick Port Authority to accompany the announcement recognising Pilot Charles Smith's remarkable 40 years of service.
Charles joined the organisation in 1986 as a Port Controller before becoming a Harbour Pilot in 1990, going on to guide more than 10,500 vessels safely into and out of Lerwick Harbour during his career.
Over four decades, Charles has played an important role in the operation of one of Scotland's busiest and most strategically important harbours, working with everything from fishing vessels and tankers to cruise ships and specialist offshore vessels.
Among the highlights of his career was piloting MSC Virtuosa on its maiden visit to Lerwick in 2024, the largest cruise ship ever to call at the harbour.
As a photographer, I particularly enjoy documenting people whose careers and achievements often take place behind the scenes. Photographs help tell these stories and preserve important moments, whether celebrating a promotion, marking a long-service award, or recognising a significant contribution to an organisation.
Congratulations to Charles on reaching this impressive milestone, and thank you to Lerwick Port Authority asking me along to contribute to the story.
Left to right - Captain Calum Grains, Chief Executive; Charles Smith, Pilot; Captain Alexander Simpson, Harbourmaster; and Colin Nicholson, Deputy Chair, following the presentation marking Charles' 40 years of service with Lerwick Port Authority.
