Tag: Seafarers Stories

Maria Symnianaki shares her experience as a woman seafarer onboard, and advises the new generation of seafarers to "follow their dreams and make their wish come true."

“Is maritime right for me?”. Simon Cabaluna Jr., Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch highlights that the decision should be based on meticulous accumulation of information and research and not only from others’ points of view or by your circumstance.

Do not choose the career of a seafarer merely because someone motivated you to do so; let it be based on the passion you have within you, says Ikenna Ebin Idika, a 4th Engineer. In fact, in his poetic words, if no one praises you, if no one claps for you, you will strongly know to your core that “I am a key essential worker, I am strong, I am a hero, I am a warrior, A seafarer, I am.”

Being a Seafarer can be harsh and stressful at times; Kamil Lagiewka, Second Officer, stresses that you need to be passionate and persevere; even if you have crew members on board who are not nice, speak up if you feel like something is not safe and do not agree to do it.

A career at sea is a way of life, according to Dimitrios Tsouvalas, Chief Officer, who notes that by its nature, seafaring is demanding and adventurous, but it is the unique investment of your life that is giving you more in return than you expected in the beginning. Let alone, the only person that sets the boundaries for your success? Yourself.

Constantin Hansen, Chief Officer, loves working at sea as there is always something new to discover- a different challenge to take care of. As he puts it, at sea one learns life. He stresses the importance of solidarity between crewmembers and states that “if everything is all right, there is no reason to press yourself or other people.”

Seafaring is not just a job, but rather, a college, according to Ioannis Angelidis, 2nd Officer, who throughout his career at sea has not only evolved as an officer but also grown as a person.

Avishek Ankit has come out a changed man after his first vessel experience; calm, composed, dedicated and determined. As he says, “the sea makes you resilient and unwavering amongst any odds that might be thrown at you”.

From the Electric Engineer point of view the challenge is to keep the vessel in good and working order while at the same time you have to take care of yourself, control your feelings and find ways to come back stronger! Let alone, people can be very unpredictable and sometimes behaviors and decisions can lead to unwanted circumstances.

Mrs Maria Kapsopoulou works as a Chief Officer on board crude oil tankers, in Maran Tankers Management of Angelicoussis Shipping Group. Mrs Kapsopoulou has been in this company since she was a cadet and currently she is attending a master degree program in International Maritime Business at Solent University of Southampton.