Service Details
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Bulkoil 1 Vessel Messman period Jan 1955 to Sep 1956,
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Transpar Vessel Ordinary Seaman (OS) period Jan 1957 to Apr 1957,
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Universe Commander Vessel Able Bodied Seaman (AB) period Apr 1957 to Jun 1958,
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Berkshire Vessel 3rd Mate period Jun 1958 to Jul 1958,
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Ore Mercury Vessel Chief Mate period Jul 1959 to Aug 1962,
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Sprucewoods Vessel Chief Mate period 1962 to 1962,
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Dangin Vessel Master period 1962 to 1963,
Bio
Introduction:
Captain Harold Burnell Banks led a maritime career of 63 years. As evidenced by his rise through the ranks, dedicated service, and commendations, Captain Banks has certainly 'Excelled at Sea'. Captain Banks was offered his first maritime opportunity at 16 years old when, the late Capt. Theo Bodden made him a mess-boy aboard the 'Amoa'. He was the first Caymanian to rank Second Officer and attained his Master Mariner's license at the age of 24. After 24 years at sea, Capt. Banks returned to Cayman Brac where he became the Manager and Chief Pilot/Mooring Master of Cayman Energy ' a ship-to-ship transfer agency. He employed 91 Brackers to whom he taught critical seamanship skills. For his accomplishments in oil transfers, he received commendations from the U.S. Department of Energy. In partnership with interested individuals, including his father, the late Guy A. Banks MBE, Cayman Brac Shipping Corporation Ltd. was formed. Capt. Banks served as the Managing Director of this port and protective agency until 1985 when he answered the call to return to international seas. Upon his return to sea, he served as Senior Pilot/Mooring Master for Skaugen Petrotrans in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1993, Captain Banks became the Chief Pilot, Mooring Master, and Ship-to-Ship Superintendent for Petroleum Logistics International in Singapore. They ceased operations in 2003 and Capt. Banks returned home. He planned to retire at 65 however; Bodden Shipping Company sought him to be Chief Pilot where he was responsible for the safe piloting and mooring of all ships entering the George Town and Creek harbours. Captain Banks retired from sea in August 2016 at the age of 78. A captain from AIDA Cruises once wrote that 'the island of Grand Cayman, without Capt. Harold Banks, would be like the Caribbean without a north-east wind and sunshine.'
Maritime Career of Captain Harold B. Banks
• 1953 – 1977 (24 years) – International
o 1953 (16 years old) – mess-boy on “Amoa”.
§ This opportunity was given to him by the late Capt. Theo Bodden.
o Became the first Caymanian to make rank of Second Officer
o 1961 (24 years old) – attained his Master Mariner license
o 1964 (27 years old) – selected as Captain of 295-foot yacht “Darginn” which at
the time was the largest private yacht owned by the late Daniel Ludwig of
National Bulk Carriers.
• 1977 – 1985 (8 years) – Cayman Islands
o Became Manager and Chief Mooring Master of Cayman Energy – a ship-to-ship
transfer agency in the Sister Islands
o Ensured employment of 91 permanent employees from Cayman Brac
o Taught mooring skills to many fellow Caymanians during this time
o Managing Director of Cayman Brac Shipping Corporation Ltd.
§ Port and protective agency for ship operations
• 1985 – 1993 (8 years) – International
o Served as Senior Pilot/Mooring Master for Skaugen Petrotrans
o Served in the Gulf of Mexico, off the US East Coast, and other locations on behalf
of the company
• 1993 – 2003 (10 years) – International
o Served as Chief Pilot, Mooring Master, Ship-to-Ship Superintendent for
Petroleum Logistics International in Singapore
o Served all around Asia, the Middle East, and Australia
• 2003 – 2016 (13 years) – Cayman Islands
o Served as Chief Pilot for Bodden Shipping in the Cayman Islands
Awards & Commendations
• Received Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in June 2013 for contributions
to the seamanship and maritime history of the Cayman Islands
• Commendation from the United States Department of Energy (1978)
• Commendation from Petroleum Logistics International (2003), and others.
