Tag: Seafarers Stories

Chief Officer Jeffrey R. Aldas, the Philippine Coordinator at 'Adopt a Ship International', shares that his seafaring career has been a transformative journey, fostering resilience, adaptability, and an appreciation for the importance of teamwork.

Being a member of the crew team in the fleet of Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc. since 2015, Third Officer Brix John Cordova shares his experience of life onboard. He underscores that life at sea involves challenges and that all actions must ensure safety at all times.

From a cadet to Chief Engineer, Dmitriy Agafonov has accumulated a wealth of knowledge during his tenure at sea. He shares his experiences, underlining the belief that one's salary should not be the primary motivation for choosing a maritime career

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.

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.

Danica Mae Madela, Junior Officer, says that shipping is a demanding and challenging industry and advises anyone who wants a career at sea to be prepared, resilient to changes and keep a respectful attitude. Despite the potential loneliness that comes with a maritime career, Danica encourages individuals to cherish the journey.

A captain must lead and motivate the crew, have a positive approach and support them through all difficulties, states Capt. Cristian Bacanu.

Capt. Nashir Khan, Marine Pilot, highlights to always keep in mind that safety comes first when onboard and shares his experience and key moments from his career at sea.

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.