Colin ‘Mac’ Macdonald Chief Engineer

Mac was born in Fife, Scotland where he attended St Andrew’s High School. After completing his education he worked for four years as a landscape gardener but due to the inclement Scottish winters, decided that a change of vocation was essential.

In July 1986, after a lengthy enrolment process, Mac joined The Royal Navy and completed basic training in September of that year. Further training followed at the Royal Navy Weapon Engineering School where he was selected to join the Submarine Service. In May 1987 Mac became a crew member onboard HMS Renown, a one hundred and thirty metre, eight thousand five hundred ton ballistic nuclear submarine.  After successful completion of sea submarine training, he qualified as a submariner and received his coveted submarine ’Dolphins’

Mac’s interest in physics was put to good use when, after a six-month course, he was employed in Plymouth’s Devonport Dockyard as a Nuclear Radiation Health Physics Monitor, which he enjoyed immensely.

Promotion followed. This required a return to the Weapon Engineering School where he specialised in the maintenance and repair of submarine radio, sonar and navigation equipment. After more sea-time on the eighty-five metre, five thousand, two hundred ton HMS Torbay, Mac was selected to attend the Weapon Engineering School to attain his Royal Naval Engineering Apprenticeship.  Having qualified he joined HMS Turbulent, on which he completed a ten-month unsupported voyage, the longest such trip of any British submarine.  Two years spent in the Devonport Dockyard maintenance base was then followed by a return to HMS Torbay.

Mac left the Royal Navy in July 2008 after completing twenty-two years service. A few months as a consultant engineer on M/Y Osprey, a thirty-six metre yacht based in Malta, led to his employment as Chief Engineer on SALU.

When not on board SALU, Mac resides in Plymouth, England. He enjoys motorcycle construction and maintenance and spending time with his family and two cats.