In the annals of life’s turning points, a fishing boat named Southern Comfort stands as an emblem of change and transformation for Brendan Cooley, now the Managing Director of International Maritime Services.
As he reminisces about his journey, Brendan takes us back to the early 1980s when the Southern Comfort first cast its spell upon him.
Brendan’s father and uncle teamed up to craft a remarkable vessel – the Southern Comfort. The boat was initially destined for cray fishing but soon found its purpose in shark fishing off the coast of Augusta.
As Brendan fondly recalls, “It was this thing that I was addicted to… it kind of meant everything to me.”
Despite his youthful zeal, Brendan’s early outings on the boat were more colourful than he’d hoped.
“I was leaning over the side of the boat vomiting,” he chuckles, reminiscing about his earnest but queasy attempts to contribute.
More than just a fishing expedition, those days were the genesis of a lifelong passion. The sea, the boat’s mechanisms, and the thrill of the chase converged to create an indelible mark on Brendan’s heart.
“It’s more about the boating aspect of it and everything that meant,” he reflects. Living near Flinders Bay, with the vast expanse of the ocean in view, fostered a deep connection to maritime life that would shape his future.
The Southern Comfort wasn’t merely a vessel; it was a crucible of innovation. Brendan’s father and uncle pioneered hydraulic systems that redefined fishing practices. The nets were no longer hauled over the side; instead, they were artfully manoeuvred through a tube system, a groundbreaking technique still employed today.
As Brendan aptly describes, “They were able to then set the net at a speed of six to eight knots rather than just drifting along.”
This revolutionised approach would become emblematic of the boat’s impact on the fishing industry.
From those formative years aboard the Southern Comfort, Brendan’s life would follow a trajectory none could have foreseen.
His ambition to be a naval architect was temporarily satisfied under the tutelage of Phil Curran.
“From as early as I could remember as a child, I was drawing boats – sketching them, designing them, colouring them in – naval architecture seemed the only job for me,” he reflects.
But it wasn’t long before the lure of the open seas was far greater than than the glimmer of flickering banks of computer screens.
Daunted by a future that seemed removed from the ocean, Brendan’s Dad suggested something inbetween – an apprenticeship with John Honey Hydraulics.
Brendan was fifteen by then and an apprenticeship ticked a bunch of boxes. At the same time, he began volunteering at Fremantle Sea Rescue and pursued a maritime service career.
He landed the apprenticeship but quickly had buyer’s remorse! Not too far into the apprenticeship, with a taste for the open waters that had been his initial entree into all things maritime, he was convinced of another aquatic trajectory.
“I desperately wanted to get out of this apprenticeship,” he admits, recounting his early struggles.
A year into the apprenticeship, Brendan withdrew from the apprenticeship and headed for Rottnest Ferries. It was pivotal.
The resilience and determination instilled by his father guided him through, eventually leading him to skipper ferries and super yachts, a testament to his single-mindedness and drive.
Looking back, Brendan recognises the profound significance of those years.
“It led me to where I am and what I do today,” he muses. While he acknowledges the role of luck, his journey is a testament to the power of a focused vision.
From a seasick youth to the helm of a maritime company, Brendan’s evolution embodies the transformative influence of a single fishing boat – the Southern Comfort – and a father passionate about the open seas.
(READ Part Two)
