MST Apprentice Certification #1

Rob McCullough of Riverdale first to complete NSBA MST apprenticeship

McCullough aboard a memorable build, Theodore Tugboat (contributed)

At A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. in Meteghan River, craftsmanship is measured both in vessels launched and in the skill of the people who build and maintain them. Rob McCullough has long been one of those steady hands in the yard. Now he holds a distinction that marks both personal achievement and a milestone for the province: he is the first person to earn trade certification as a Marine Service Technician (MST) by completing the apprenticeship process. While other experienced workers have achieved MST certification by challenging the exam and receiving credit for prior experience, McCullough is the first to go through the full apprenticeship pathway — combining on-the-job training with study and testing.

Image from a tricky job (contributed)

McCullough grew up in Riverdale, near Weymouth, Nova Scotia, and describes himself as a lifelong “jack of all trades.” For years he drove truck in Saskatchewan before deciding to return home to raise his son. That move back to southwestern Nova Scotia set him in an unexpected direction. “I fell into the marine industry by accident,” he says. He applied for a boat fiberglassing job with only basic experience from automotive body work. He got the job — and discovered an industry he liked. Rob had always been interested in homebuilt boats, and once in the shipyard, he was eager to learn. He began glassing interiors on new builds before being sent out into the yard to help complete a four-foot stern extension on a small lobster boat. Outdoor repair work opened his eyes to the variety of the marine industry. “It made me realize how many trades it takes to run a shipyard,” he says. McCullough built experience in fibreglassing, painting, and general shipyard work before moving to the mechanics crew.

That transition sparked his interest in the MST trade — a certification that recognizes broad expertise in marine service and repair. For someone who had always enjoyed variety it was a natural fit. “MST is a ‘jack of all shipyard trades’ trade,” he explains. With a mechanical background and hands-on experience across multiple departments, he saw the apprenticeship as practical and forward-looking. He deepened his knowledge of Transport Canada regulations and expanded his understanding of wooden boats and sailboats. While his regular job counted toward many apprenticeship credits, the structured curriculum and study materials were essential in rounding out his expertise. Because he entered the program with eight years of experience, McCullough was able to complete the apprenticeship and certification process in just a couple of years — a timeline that might otherwise take four or more for someone starting fresh.

McCullough on the job (contributed)

Today, McCullough values the variety of MST work. In a single week, he might step aboard a wooden sailboat, a fibreglass fishing vessel, a yacht, or a steel barge. He takes pride in preparing boats for Transport Canada inspections and in solving tricky removal jobs below deck by finding the “path of least resistance.” He’s also guiding new hires and considering formally mentoring an apprentice of his own. For McCullough, completing the apprenticeship is more than a credential. “It’s acknowledgment of my hard work, expertise and professionalism,” he says. It also offers a path to less physically demanding marine work in the future. In an industry that relies on experience and adaptability, McCullough’s achievement shows the rewards of personal determination and the growing strength of Nova Scotia’s skilled marine workforce.