Contribution Story from our Cadet: Pandemic Apprentice

Written by DC Avenido, John Leonard L.

One of the most unforgettable experiences of a seafarer is their first sea service and the excitement that lingers in looking forward to embarking a vessel. Their adventure is finding a good company, their first interview, their first medical exam, and their dream of becoming a successful mariner one day. Each sailor has a unique and unforgettable way of getting lined up and onboard their first ship. My experience on my first vessel was one in a million.

In 2020, I looked forward to my sea service experience. Finishing my two-year academic experience as a Norwegian Shipowner’s Association scholar, the experience was vital to our curriculum before returning to university to complete another year and finish our studies to acquire a licence.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan. COVID-19 became a global health pandemic after the Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic of 2009. With many countries imposing lockdowns and strict community quarantines, crew changes on vessels were hard and nearly impossible. This further affected my hopes, fuelling the fade of my excitement and positivity in looking forward to joining my first vessel.

Captain Jack Sparrow: “Always keep a weather eye on the horizon.”

When the fictional protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean said those words, they never left my thoughts. On the contrary, they lifted me whenever I lost hope. So that, although the seas are rough or the winds are strong, a great sailor should never lose sight of the horizon and hope for better because, one way or another, we will reach our destination.

After constant prayer and aspiration, Wilhelmsen Ship Management’s Manila office called me one September morning about a tight yet promising opportunity to embark on a vessel as a crew change took place in the bay of Manila. So, on 28 September, I boarded my first vessel and caught a glimpse of the ship’s stern with the huge markings “CAPE JACARANDA.”

As a young blood, everything seemed foreign to me. I was scared; the routine, the workplace, the learning, and the cultures on board were just too overwhelming.

It could be my dedication or passion for my duty, but I adjusted easily to the assigned jobs. In my younger years,

I scoured garbage to look for items I could sell to various junk shops to earn money. So, the stinky scent of garbage was not something new to me.

I have also worked alongside my father constructing our house. So, heavy work, such as cargo hold cleaning, was not a big deal. Instead, I found it just as interesting as other deck work.

A cadet onboard should learn all aspects of a ship inside and out. They should also know all the jobs and routines for the proper operation of a ship. So, with that, I went to the bridge with the Chief Officer’s duty for bridge watch-keeping every dusk and dawn. I did my best to learn everything from the equipment to documents to navigation. Fortunately, officers employed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management taught me everything I should know.

There were times I was shouted at. However, I took all feedback positively. Cadets should be flexible and adaptive to new changes, especially when dealing with different nationalities, personalities, and cultures. I am known as an entertainer in our university and class and being able to adapt and get along with the other seafarers within a week of my embarkation is one of the qualities I am proud to have.

One in a Million Experience

My experience onboard this floating superstructure is something not all cadets can experience. Even though the Master appointed me full-time in the galley to cook Filipino food for my fellow countrymen, I did not stop learning. After adjusting to deck work, this experience made me a better seafarer to adapt to various circumstances.

After my duty at seven in the evening, I always made my way up to the bridge at half past eight to accompany the third officer and the able seaman on their duty. This lasted two months. After my time in the galley, I also encountered different events: A minor fire onboard, a search operation for a man overboard from another ship, and a near-miss with a fishing boat in Chinese waters.

Bi-annually, every vessel should undergo dry docking, but I could not partake in one during my last months aboard. My second officer, Mr Parte, told me that dry docking was a great opportunity to learn about the entire vessel. His words intrigued me, as I was always hungry to learn.

Things went differently than planned. The company did not allow me to participate but instead prepared for my disembarkation a month before my contract expired. Fortunately, I worked alongside the Chief Officer in the drydocking preparations. He showed me the places onboard that needed to be repaired or replaced during maintenance. I was the one who scrutinized the entire finished plans and made reports and requisitions to the company under his supervision. It was challenging and exhausting, yet the experience was worth it.

During my contract, I never had a chance to experience shore liberty due to the strict ordinances in various ports and the company. My fellow seafarers teased me about being an incomplete seafarer for not trying it. Yet, with the immense opportunity to learn and the one-of-a-kind experience onboard, deep inside, I was more than happy to stay onboard than experience any pride that shore liberty might bring. My voyage in the industry has just begun. I wanted to ride, work, and command a ship when I was in my prime. Thus, I clung to my dream and held onto my faith in reaching my goals. Today, I am sailing under the flag of Wilhelmsen Ship Management and aboard my second vessel, MV Stove Ocean.

I know I still have a lot to work on as a cadet, but I will never stop learning until I reach my dream: to become a competent mariner of Wilhelmsen Ship Management, to make an impact today, tomorrow and in years to come.