Captain Anastasios Mavrogenis underscores the pivotal role of a Master in fostering team cohesion, building trust, and inspiring confidence among crew members. Despite challenges, Masters are urged to cultivate a robust culture by encouraging open communication, providing seamanship education, sharing knowledge, and offering support—setting a leadership example.
Captain Anastasios also advocates for enhanced social life onboard through organized events such as movie nights, educational and entertaining activities, games, exercise, and face-to-face communication. This approach aims to prevent seafarers from feeling isolated in their cabins and encourages a more connected and supportive environment.
SAFETY4SEA: What have you learned over the course of your career at sea?
Capt. Anastasios Mavrogenis: I learned to think carefully and to act safely, make plans and well prepared before proceeding to any job and to work as a team. Teamwork is the keyword and as Team leader, Master must create chemistry and trust to bond the members of the team. I also learned how difficult and challenging is to manage a close community composed by crew with different abilities, character, nationality, and culture.
S4S: How would you describe your daily life at sea/ work in a few words?
A.M.: Life at sea often becomes routine; main daily priorities are to keep the crew and the ship safe by verifying safe navigation, monitoring environmental conditions, planning and organizing maintenance when required, training of crew , and commercially keeping owners and charterer duly updated and fully satisfied. During free time, we try to have good time with officers and crew at public spaces by sharing thoughts and worries and we stay connected with our family to gather strength for the upcoming day.
S4S: What is the biggest challenge that you have to face on board?
A.M. The Master of the vessel should inspire the crew with confidence, certainty, and safety. This is the biggest challenge faced daily on board. We motivate the crew daily to work as a team, feel free to share their thoughts and worries, teaching them seamanship especially to new crew, share our knowledge and finally supporting and helping them to overcome their uncertainties – with a few words, leading by example.
S4S: What is your piece of advice to fellow crew members onboard?
A.M.: This is an exceptional job, and you should love it, if you want to stand on the top of your profession. You will count the financial benefits but not as primary motivation. Work safely and always as a team, share your knowledge, thoughts, and worries. Be uneasy and adopt a learner mindset, respect, care and treat the ship as your house, because the time you spent is half of your life, protect the environment and always remember that Nature’s power is unlimited.
S4S: What inspires you every day onboard?
A.M.: The nature of the work. While onboard, I do and get things done proactively. I respect everybody, share my knowledge, teach seamanship to new crew . I am always on the lookout for a better option, try to learn new skills and make myself more employable.
S4S: What has been the most extraordinary thing that you have experienced on board?
A.M.: The most extraordinary think was to be the Master of a new VLCC. After many years at sea, serving as master in MR tankers , the management of my company ask me to be the master of the 1st new building, of a total 4 new VLCCs, which was carrying the name of the founder of the company, CAPTAIN YIANNIS LATSIS. It was big challenge but also responsibility which i accepted with due respect. The delivery of a new VLCC and the time I spent in the shipyard, gave me the opportunity to explore and strengthen my knowledge on various technical aspects.
S4S: What is the one thing that should change to make life better on board?
A.M.: The last years, seafarers during their rest period isolated in their cabins and used excessive internet time. We need to organize various events (such as watching movies, educational/entertainment, games, exercise) to have the crew return to recreation rooms and have a real face to face communication by sharing thoughts problems and worries.
S4S: What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking a career at sea?
A.M.: A career at sea may be quite appealing since it provides a unique combination of difficulties and rewards. Difficulties such as isolation, far from your love ones for some time, while you will be exposed in an risky working environment during sailing across oceans . If you can bear all above, note that maritime industry is growing up, you will have a secure and prosperous future for you and your family with financial benefits and with many opportunities for a successful job ashore.
S4S: What do you miss the most while at sea?
A.M.: In general, I missed time with my family as I lived partly various important events with them, but this is the main cost of this job.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
