The late Mr. Peter Haycraft’s family is paying tribute to his legacy and supporting the next generation of professionals in the marine industry through a generous monetary gift to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s (HLSCC) Centre for Applied Marine Studies.

The family has pledged a significant donation to fund paid apprenticeships for participants enrolled in the College’s Marine Professional Training (MPT) program. The initial focus will be on providing this opportunity to the twelve students in each cohort, who undergo ten consecutive weeks of intensive workshops covering six certification modules, followed by eight weeks of apprenticeship. Additionally, the family’s contribution was supplemented by several smaller donations from the hosts of MPT’s Cohort 5 apprenticeships.

In a joint effort with Nanny Cay, the family has also donated three 40ft. containers to support the instruction of the Fire Prevention and Basic Fire Fighting module within the College’s Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers course. These containers are currently located on the College’s South Campus.

Dr. Richard Georges, President of HLSCC, expressed his gratitude to the Haycraft family, stating, “We are truly grateful that the Haycraft family has chosen to support our Marine and Maritime programs in honor of Mr. Peter Haycraft. Mr. Haycraft’s philanthropic legacy in the Territory is enduring, and these gifts to the College ensure that generations of Virgin Islanders will benefit from his spirit of generosity.”

The family revealed that Mr. Peter Haycraft began his career at the age of 16, joining the Merchant Navy as an apprentice. Over the next decade, he gained valuable experience working on various vessels worldwide, ranging from oil tankers to coastal trading ships, all while pursuing his Master’s Ticket. Eventually, he arrived in Tortola as the captain of The Youth of Tortola, overseeing the ferry operations between Tortola and St. Thomas. Mr. Haycraft played a pivotal role in establishing direct shipping routes from Europe and North America to Tortola even before the construction of Port Purcell. This involved unloading cargo from anchored vessels in Road Harbour, manually transferring it to the ferry dock, and transporting it to warehouses.

In 1962, Mr. Haycraft purchased a 57ft Motor Fishing vessel in the United Kingdom and successfully sailed the Kilros across the Atlantic to Tortola. He later acquired three barges from Antigua, completing the fleet necessary for efficient cargo transportation from ship to shore. This marked the beginning of Island Shipping and Trading Co. Furthermore, Mr. Haycraft became the only qualified local to serve as a Harbour Pilot, fulfilling this duty for many years, including guiding the Royal Yacht Britannia with the late Queen Elizabeth on board.

As Road Town Wholesale Co. expanded, Mr. Haycraft was determined to involve his local staff, enabling them to become shareholders and providing opportunities for further education and training abroad. He led by example, never shying away from hard work or long hours, and expected the same dedication from his employees, many of whom benefited from his guidance and mentorship, fostering loyalty to the company.

The Haycraft family expressed their motivation for supporting this program, stating, “We are committed to ensuring the continuity of this program as we firmly believe in its significance for the future of the British Virgin Islands.”

For more information about HLSCC’s marine and maritime programs or to contribute as a donor to the College, please contact Ms. Susan Zaluski, Director of Marine and Maritime Studies, at szaluski@hlscc.edu.vg, and Ms. Yvonne Crabbe, Director of Institutional Advancement, at ycrabbe@hlscc.edu.vg.