The navy veteran guiding cruises away from storms

"From a base near Heathrow, Paul Mitchell, 56, spends his days, and often his nights, directing some of the world's largest cruise ships thousands of miles away. He works from MSC Cruises' Maritime Support Centre in Stockley Park, leading a team responsible for monitoring weather conditions across the oceans and advising captains on how to avoid dangerous storms. "Smooth sailing doesn't happen accidentally," said Mitchell, adding that his job is about making sure a "bad weather forecast" does not "become a holiday memory"."

"Mitchell, who grew up in Portugal, developed an early fascination with the weather after watching Atlantic storms roll in from the shoreline and "the massive waves crashing". After leaving school, he faced a choice between a career with the UK Met Office or the option to "join the Navy and see the world", opting for the latter in 1988. He went on to serve for nearly 35 years."

"He went on to serve for nearly 35 years. Mitchell began as a meteorological observer, gathering data and maintaining instruments, before becoming an assistant forecaster and eventually a meteorologist and oceanographer. His work took him to conflict zones including Sierra Leone, Bosnia and Afghanistan, where he served as a forecaster at Camp Bastion. By the end of his naval career, he had spent more than a decade at sea."

Paul Mitchell operates from MSC Cruises' Maritime Support Centre near Heathrow, directing large cruise ships thousands of miles away to avoid dangerous weather. He leads a team that monitors weather and oceanography continuously, supporting 23 ships across regions from the Mediterranean to East Asia and advising captains on route adjustments based on forecasts and local reports. Mitchell trained in the Royal Navy from 1988, progressing from meteorological observer to meteorologist and oceanographer, serving in conflict zones and at sea. His naval experience informs operational decisions that prioritize passenger safety and comfort by preventing bad weather forecasts from becoming holiday disruptions.

Read at www.bbc.com