Capt. Simon Merritt

Capt. Simon Merritt has dedicated 37 years to Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, having begun his career with the company as an officer cadet and progressing rapidly through the ranks. He achieved his first command as Master at just 23 years of age and went on to serve as Master for more than eight years.

Following his seagoing career, Simon relocated to China, where he project-managed the construction of four 10,000 dwt general cargo vessels. He subsequently took up a permanent shore-based role, managing the company’s satellite offices in Germany and assuming overall responsibility for 18 vessels in service, as well as numerous vessels under construction.

Today, as Senior Fleet Manager, Simon has overall responsibility for Carisbrooke Shipping’s fleet, encompassing technical operations, innovation, maintenance, regulatory compliance and safety.

In recent years, Simon has played a leading role in driving the company’s innovation and decarbonisation agenda. He has successfully led bids securing funding through six rounds of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), supporting the installation of a demonstrator wind-propulsion system and live demonstrations of a hydrogen-fuelled engine.  He has also successfully led live trials with cold ironing installations powered by recycled batteries, solar panel tests and new generation underwater coatings.

Alongside these pioneering projects, Simon has overseen the delivery of three diesel-electric general cargo vessels from the shipyard and, most recently, the ordering of a further ten general cargo vessels. His career reflects a combination of extensive seagoing experience, technical leadership and a sustained commitment to innovation and the development of a more efficient and sustainable maritime fleet.