As a trainee seafarer with four years of experience across four vessels, aged between 15 and 22 years, my recent assignment on MT Yangtze was incredibly insightful. My typical work hours were 8 AM to 6 PM, though as a trainee, the schedule varied based on work demands and navigational watches. I reported to the Chief Officer, who assigned daily tasks, with pending work carried over to the next day.
Working on an older vessel like the MT Yangtze gave me ample opportunities to develop practical skills. I was able to develop critical skills such as hands-on problem-solving, teamwork, and the importance of collaboration with an experienced crew.
Major learning from MT YANGTZE.
Dry Dock Experience: One of the highlights of my time on MT YANGTZE was completing a dry dock in China for almost 40 days. During this period, the entire vessel underwent maintenance, and I was deeply involved in the process. This experience provided me with invaluable knowledge about vessel upkeep, systems, and repairs. I learned the importance of attention to detail and gained insights into the challenges of maintaining an older vessel. Key tasks included:
- Inspecting ballast tank plates with the surveyor, which was a first for me.
- Overhauling cargo valves and stripping valves.
- Inspecting cargo tanks and preparing detailed reports.
- Personally assisting senior officers in maintaining deck pipelines and preparing day-to-day updates.
While I faced challenges such as maintenance hurdles and limited resources, there was a lot to learn from aging vessels.
A message to Seafarers
Gaining hands-on experience is the key to mastering your craft. While new vessels are definitely easier compared to old vessels, there is no exposure to the challenges. Being a trainee, working on old ships gives you much more experience practically and makes you the best at what you do, and every day, there is something new to learn.
