Captain Thilanka Sirimanna is presently overseeing the operation of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) from a remote location. These USVs are compact vessels controlled remotely and do not have any crew on board. Despite no longer being physically present on the vessel, Captain Thilanka draws from his past experiences and emphasizes the significance of being humble and friendly to everyone onboard.
He underscores that, for every seafarer, the establishment of an efficient team is crucial for ensuring the vessel’s smooth and safe operation. In addition, the safety of their families is the driving force for all seafarers, notwithstanding the various challenges encountered in the maritime environment. In that regard, Capt Thilanka emphasizes on enhancing connectivity with families and friends ashore. Moreover, with reliable connection, seafarers can gain access to valuable information via the internet. This enables them to utilize their free time for self-improvement and skill development, he highlights.
SAFETY4SEA: What do you love the most out of your career at sea?
Thilanka Sirimanna: There are many things I love about the career at sea. First thing will be travelling around the world. I was fortunate to go onboard vessels calling ports frequently and having some time in ports to go ashore. Apart from that the earning capacities in young age itself, having a clear path of career attracted me to this career.
S4S: What have you learned over the course of your career at sea?
Th.S.: Taking responsibility of assets with higher value, working with multinational and multicultural crew, keeping your objectives aligned and many other things I learned in the past 14 years at sea.
S4S: How would you describe your daily life at sea/ work in a few words?
Th.S.: It totally depends where you are and with the type of operations going onboard. It is better if I can have a few days/weeks of peaceful sailing time with day to day operations. Otherwise the routine will change if we are in a port, doing some critical operations, passing through a piracy area or passing a dense traffic area etc..
S4S: What is the biggest challenge that you have to face on board?
Th.S.: We never know what challenges are ahead of us. But the main challenge I encountered is Covid pandemic. Being onboard on a management role maintaining health criterias while keeping a positive mindset was really challenging. During that time we had no idea when we would see our family again.
S4S: What is your piece of advice to fellow crew members onboard?
Th.S.: Being humble and friendly to everyone onboard is the best advice I can give to any crew member. It certainly helps the mental wellbeing of all the crew onboard. Also try to adapt and update yourself with new technology. Stay open for opportunities and keep yourself ready to take on new challenges.
S4S: What inspires you every day onboard?
Th.S.: Happy crew, a smoothly operating vessel and our families are safe at home will inspire me every day.
S4S: What is the one thing that should change to make life better on board?
Th.S.: Enhancing connectivity with families will give a significant change to seafarers who work onboard. They will feel connected with their families and friends. Also with proper connections seafarers will have access to knowledge through the internet. They can use their free time to up-skill themselves as well.
S4S: What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking a career at sea?
Th.S.: Keep your dreams alive, keep your goals with a timeline. Keep reminding and tracking them if you are behind take actions. Always search for options and expand your network. Know your path clearly and drive yourself through it.
S4S: What do you miss the most about your seagoing experience?
Th.S.: Having a coffee or tea on the bridge looking at the beautiful oceans, beautiful sun rises and sunsets, navigating through ice areas, navigating through beautiful landscapes and many more occasions will be missed.
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.
