1969
Deck-hand/mate on tugsthroughout BC
In the 46 years (and counting) that Capt. Denning has been in the West Coast Marine industry, he has worked in a variety of capacities including senior officer, Master, Instructor, Pilot and Pilot executive. During this time he has accumulated a vast knowledge of the BC coast and an in depth comprehension of the marine industry as a whole. In the 8 years that he served as a director of the BC Coast Pilots he constructively worked with many sectors of the industry, regulators and politicians. He has also served 6 years as Pacific Vice-president of the Canadian Marine Pilots Association and as such became very well acquainted in dealing with national issues and many levels of government.
Captain Fred Denning began his sea going career in 1969 with a small Prince Rupert owned tug boat company. In 1971 this company was acquired by a large coast-wide tug operator and Captain Denning stayed on with them working as Mate on their Coastal tugs. In 1974 he went to Camosun College in Victoria where he was successful in getting his 350 ton Tug Masters Certificate. Over the next several years Captain Denning continued his career working primarily in the towboat industry. He was also engaged teaching periodically, in the Marine Departments of Northwest Community College, Malaspina College (now Vancouver Island University), and North Island College. During this same period he upgraded his certification to an ONI, unlimited Master, Home Trade/First Mate Foreign Going certificate. While working on upgrading his certification, he made the decision to pursue Piloting as a career. In late 1986 he took a job with a Vancouver based towboat company and worked out of both Port Alberni and Vancouver. In 1987 he moved his family to Vancouver Island, settling in Nanaimo where they still reside. By mid 1988 he had passed the BC Coast Pilot’s exam and in November 1989 he began his piloting career as an apprentice Pilot. In June of 1990, he was issued BC Coast Pilot’s license 0-270 by the Pacific Pilotage Authority and has been with the British Columbia Coast Pilots since then. In 2004 Captain Denning was elected as a Director of the BC Coast Pilots and was selected to serve as vice president. In 2005 he moved into the President’s chair. Upon completion of his two year term in office, Captain Denning returned to full time piloting duties in 2006. In 2009 he was again elected to the company Board of Directors where he served as vice-president and President until 2015.
