Fishing trawler picture wins UK’s ultimate sea view competition

A stunning aerial shot of a fishing trawler taken in Whitstable, Kent, won the competition

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  'The Fisherman's Wake', an aerial shot of a fishing trawler taken at Whitstable in Kent by Michael Marsh, is the Overall Winner in the 2021 Ultimate Sea View photography competition. PA

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  'Hopeman Happiness', taken at Moray, Scotland by Jacky Pratt, is the People and Recreation category winner. PA

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  'Evening Cast', taken in Aberdeenshire by Ian Finlayson, is the Coastal Views category highly commended image. PA

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  'Fair chance of stars', taken on Dungeness by Susan Pilcher, is the Ships and Wrecks category highly commended image. PA

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  'Wave Rider', taken at Thurso by James Gunn, is the People and Recreation category highly commended image. PA

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  'LPG tanker 'Bayamo' leaving the River Tees and passing the EDF Teesside Wind Farm', by Tom Collins, is the Industry category highly commended image. PA

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has announced the winner of its ninth photography competition, showcasing images relating to all aspects of Britain’s relationship with the sea.

This year, the annual contest had more than 1,500 entries from amateur and professional photographers alike, with the judging panel awarding the overall prize to Michael Marsh.

His winning entry, The Fisherman’s Wake, was a stunning aerial shot of a fishing trawler taken in Whitstable, Kent, earning the amateur photographer a £500 ($691) prize voucher for photographic equipment.

In addition to the overall prize, winners were also named in four categories:

• Coastal views: David Dodds – St Mary’s Lighthouse taken in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England

• People & Recreation: Jacky Pratt – Hopeman Happiness taken in Moray, Scotland

• Industry: Chris Mole – Old Rope taken in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, Wales

• Ships & Wrecks: David Stearne – Pinnace and Barges Rot in Their Graveyard in The Medway Mud, taken on the Hoo Peninsula, Kent, England

The competition was judged online on September 8 by the chief executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Capt Justin Osmond RN and three photography experts: Neil Stevenson, online picture editor at The Telegraph; former Sunday Times picture editor Ray Wells and i picture editor Sophie Batterbury.

The society, which provides financial support to former seafarers and their dependants, encouraged photographers of all abilities to submit pictures that captured the essence of Britain’s enduring connection with the sea, including merchant ships, fishermen, coast, harbours and ports.

Captain Justin Osmond said: “We thought that Michael Marsh’s winning image, The Fisherman’s Wake, really encapsulated the fishing sector, an area of Britain’s industry which has taken a significant hit due to Covid-19 and was particularly striking with the trawler being alone out at sea. We hope that next year – as we celebrate 10 years of the competition – is the best contest yet.”

At the start of the pandemic, the society launched a £1 million Covid response fund, supplementing the society’s existing annual grant expenditure, to support working maritime professionals affected by the pandemic.

The fund continues to be effective this year, with the charity’s applications for grants during this period more than doubling, highlighting how many livelihoods within the industry have been affected by the crisis.