From hand-steering the RSV Nuyina to sailing on the British Antarctic Survey’s RRS Sir David Attenborough, Ayla’s Serco career is a tide of opportunity  

On a pristine sheet of white ice, stretching out in every direction until it meets the deep waters of the Southern Ocean, a lone figure dots the untamed landscape. The only sounds are the creaking of crisp ice underfoot, and the hum of a ship in the distance. This is my life, the figure thinks to herself, pausing to photograph the moment not just on her phone, but in her memory. I get to live this. 

The explorer is Ayla Rance, Serco’s Deck Cadet working on the RSV Nuyina. This time, she’s sailing with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA). The above captures a special moment from her exchange when, Ayla recalls, she had the opportunity to take a walk alone on Blaiklock Island.  

“Of course we were in the eyesight of the SDA, but for a little while, we got to explore by ourselves. It was such a peaceful moment. I was thinking, ‘How is this my life?’ I felt so incredibly humbled and grateful.” 

Having grown up on the water — living aboard her grandparents’ boat and later studying marine science — Ayla always knew she wanted a life at sea. When she started asking how to get on board a big ship, she discovered that nautical science was the path forward. After thoroughly enjoying her pre-sea training, Ayla is now completing 18 months of sea time with Serco. Once that’s done, she’ll return for the next academic phase of her degree, with her sights set on progressing from Deck Cadet to Third Officer, and eventually stepping into roles like Chief Mate — or even Captain one day. 

Shortly after joining Serco in 2024, Ayla had her first hands-on experience steering a ship, guided by the expertise of Serco’s RSV Nuyina Master, Paul Clarke. “I was steering by hand, navigating through ice,” Ayla recalls. “It was an incredible moment, with icebergs all around — and Paul, in his signature style, even put an L plate on the back of the chair for me.” 

From falling even deeper in love with ancient arts like celestial navigation to thriving among the supportive culture of the RSV Nuyina’s crew, Ayla says her journey with Serco opened a world of opportunities. Most recently, this included sailing aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough on a BAS Antarctic resupply and science voyage, which included stops at US Antarctic research base Palmer Station, Port Lockroy (the UK’s first-established Antarctic station), Rothera Research Station (another British station), the Blaiklock, Elephant and Falkland Islands, and Madeira. 

Ayla reflects on how valuable the exchange opportunity was, offering deep insights that enhanced both her knowledge and skillset. Under the leadership of Captain Will Whatley from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Ayla noticed striking similarities between the Nuyina and the Sir David Attenborough. 

“Both ships have an incredible culture — everyone’s positive, motivated, and loves what they do,” she says. “Being on the SDA for a voyage that took place later in the year than usual was a unique learning experience. Typically, they sail to Antarctica between September and March, but this trip ran from late May to June. The ice is much thicker at that time, and the daylight hours are limited.” 

She also notes that the RRS Sir David Attenborough has a lower ice class than the Nuyina, making it a valuable experience to navigate an Antarctic voyage aboard a different icebreaker in unfamiliar waters, “The area where the SDA sails is much more rugged, with more mountains, rocky land around the bases, and less-charted territory. You really have to stay on course because there’s a real risk of hitting uncharted rocks.” 

“There was also lots of wildlife. We were visited by around 110 whales in Lemaire Channel.” 

Ayla shares that she has come away from her exchange with an even better appreciation of the important role the maritime operations sector plays in Antarctic research and international cooperation. 

“There were great discussions on board about UK and Australian collaboration – it’s clear the BAS is eager to share knowledge and work even more closely with Australia. I also met some Australians who’d gone over and were working with BAS, and I met another Deck Cadet who’d previously been on a British Serco ship. There were strong connections visible between the Antarctic and maritime efforts of both countries.” 

Reflecting on the exchange, Ayla describes it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Earlier in his career, Master Paul Clark was a Deck Officer with BAS, and Ayla shares that as one of her mentors at Serco, Master Paul was instrumental in creating the opportunity, alongside RSV Nuyina Operations Manager John East. 

“To my Serco management team, I want to say the biggest thank you for enabling this experience, which was more than just professional development – it was an investment in me, in my future, and in the future of women in Antarctic maritime,” Ayla says. 

“To know I am part of a company that believes in me and creates opportunities like this is something I don’t take for granted. I feel incredibly proud to represent Serco.”