Cornish-Born Jasmine Bibby Wins Cadet of the Year at Maritime Awards

A Cornish-born student has been recognised on the national stage after being named Cadet of the Year at the Maritime Solent Awards 2025.

Cornwall to the High Seas

Jasmine Bibby, who was born and raised in Cornwall, is studying BSc (Hons) Nautical Science at Southampton Solent University’s Warsash Maritime School. Her award marks a major milestone in what’s shaping up to be a promising maritime career.

The Maritime Solent Awards celebrate the leaders, innovators and emerging talent driving Southampton’s £2.5 billion maritime industry. In front of an audience of 300, Jasmine was announced as the winner of the Apprentice or Cadet of the Year Award, sponsored by Carnival UK.

Now in her second year of study, Jasmine will soon be joining Cunard’s Queen Victoria as part of her training before completing her degree in Southampton.

“This Award Means Absolutely Everything”

Speaking after receiving the honour, Jasmine said:

“This award means absolutely everything. The hard work I’ve put in so far at sea and at university has made me realise it’s worth it. I couldn’t have come this far without the support of my lecturers, the officers’ onboard ships, and my fellow cadets.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Senior Lecturer Deck Programmes, Nicole Fisher; she is a huge inspiration for female cadets to look up to.”

Championing Women in Maritime

At Solent, Jasmine is an active member of the Warsash Women’s Group, a peer-led society that supports women pursuing careers in maritime. She mentors others in the industry and advocates for greater gender representation in maritime and shipping.

Her exceptional performance and advocacy for women in the sector led to her winning this year’s award.

A Career with Purpose

Jasmine said her journey into the maritime world began with a love for hands-on work and a desire to see the world.

“I wanted to see the world for myself,” she said. “I’ve always worked in hands-on jobs, and I love getting stuck in. This looked like it was the perfect fit for me – getting to travel and be heavily involved with the behind-the-scenes operation of the job is really rewarding.”

Find out more about courses at Southampton Solent University’s Warsash Maritime School via https://maritime.solent.ac.uk/