A LARGS Calmac worker's 'light bulb' moment has landed him top spot in an international photography competition.

Third officer Marino Giorgetti submitted a picture of him changing a lightbulb on the main mast of the MV Isle of Arran to the seafarers' union Nautilus' prestigious global photography competition.

Marino, who currently works on board the MV Bute on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay crossing, said he entered hoping the judges might like the unusual image - but told the News he never expected to top the pile.

His creative shot wowed the panel and he claimed the winner's prize.

Marino was invited to the Nautilus general meeting in Rotterdam, where he was presented with an award.

He said: "I saw the competition on the Nautilus twitter feed and remembered we were taking some quirky images when the vessel was in dry dock.

"I had thought the judges might like to see some of them and thought it would be worth a shot sending them in.

"Passengers travelling on board don’t always appreciate that something as simple as changing a light bulb can actually be quite a major undertaking."

Apart from making sure darkness doesn't descend, Marino's duties involve general maintenance on the vessel, look after the deck logbook and assisting the chief officer and ship's master as required.

Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson praised Marino's image for illustrating the union's key messages.

He said: "Seafarers are the unsung heroes of the global economy, keeping the lights on and families fed around the world.

"Their service should be celebrated in all its forms, and Nautilus International is proud of its long history in raising public and political awareness of the shipping industry and the essential role played by merchant seafarers."

Sponsored by satellite communications company Inmarsat, the Nautilus run competition was on the lookout for pictures of things not normally associated with life on board.

Having scooped the top spot in the competition, Marino's picture will also now be hung in pride of place at the union's headquarters in London.