TRIBUTES have been paid to an acclaimed seafarer who spent most of his life on the waves.

Andrew Adams died peacefully, aged 67, at Colchester General Hospital following an illness.

Born in Hackney, east London, he spent his childhood moving around because his parents were in the armed forces and lived in Kenya, Germany, Dover and Canterbury before he settled at Angel Gate, Harwich, in 1961.

Two years later, aged just 15, he left the Sir Anthony Deane School and joined Trinity House as a boy seaman and married wife Lesley in 1967.

He left five years later to study for his master mariner qualification at King Edward VII Nautical College and Sir John Cass Nautical College, and then joined the Merchant Navy, sailing on several ships and working his way through the ranks from navigating officer to chief officer and finally becoming a shipmaster in 1974.

Now Captain Adams, he joined the Royal Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander before returning to Trinity House as a first class pilot and later taking up roles at the Harwich Haven Authority, including senior pilot and chief pilot.

He retired in 2008 and became a consultant for research company HR Wallingford, working as a simulator pilot and marine advisor.

Eldest daughter Rachel Limb said her father was passionate about his work.

“He enjoyed classical music, more so operas and the composer Mozart, but also loved sailing and had his own boat – the Bugle,” she said.

“In fact, he had limited other interests as he lived and breathed the life of the sea.”

A tribute website to Captain Adams is under construction at andyadams.org.uk for those who knew him to post anecdotes and stories about him.

He leaves behind four children, six grandchildren and brother Edward.