Capt. Melvin went to sea at age 19 with Webster Shipping Co. From June 1937 to 1944, he was based out of Trinidad with the Trade Board as did many other Caymanian Seamen, until the end of the war. On Dec 11th, 1944 he obtained his Mate License and worked as a Second Mate on the "Smaland" and Chief Mate on the "Casanova". His first License was limited tonnage known as a Liberian Limited Masters License which he obtained after many years experience. In 1947 he received his Masters Certificate and worked with Florida Marine Corp., McCarty Shipping Co., Cia De Insdustrias de Maritimas, Capt A.A. Reid, R.C. Foster, INSCO Shipping Company, Escal and Navarro Northwest Caribbean Shipping Company. Capt Melvin was known to the Caymanian people as a true 'son of the soil' as he was one of the few Captains who sought permission to stop in Cayman Brac with cargo as in those days, not many shipping companies felt this route was lucrative. His last two engagements were with "Island Prince III" and "Carib Carrier". It was while with "Carib carrier" of the Jamaica Cement Company during his Christmas vacation in 1971, that he has a stroke. This resulted in his early retirement.

Capt. Melvin went to sea at age 19 with Webster Shipping Co. From June 1937 to 1944, he was based out of Trinidad with the Trade Board as did many other Caymanian Seamen, until the end of the war. On Dec 11th, 1944 he obtained his Mate License and worked as a Second Mate on the "Smaland" and Chief Mate on the "Casanova". His first License was limited tonnage known as a Liberian Limited Masters License which he obtained after many years experience. In 1947 he received his Masters Certificate and worked with Florida Marine Corp., McCarty Shipping Co., Cia De Insdustrias de Maritimas, Capt A.A. Reid, R.C. Foster, INSCO Shipping Company, Escal and Navarro Northwest Caribbean Shipping Company. Capt Melvin was known to the Caymanian people as a true 'son of the soil' as he was one of the few Captains who sought permission to stop in Cayman Brac with cargo as in those days, not many shipping companies felt this route was lucrative. His last two engagements were with "Island Prince III" and "Carib Carrier". It was while with "Carib carrier" of the Jamaica Cement Company during his Christmas vacation in 1971, that he has a stroke. This resulted in his early retirement.