A job with a sea view

Sailing past erupting volcanoes, marvelling at fire rainbows and crossing snow-dusted canals. Mr Shankar Naganathan, 30, has experienced all these in his four and a half years at sea.

“The excitement is always expecting the unexpected,” said the Third Officer, who works for Shell Shipping Management. “Both sea and shore-based jobs are the same. We are paid according to the responsibilities and designations held. I just have a better office view – the view of the vast sea changes every day.”

MAKING THE SWITCH TO MARITIME

Mr Shankar is one of the panellists at the Careers at Sea & Beyond Forum and Exhibition. Held on Sept 8, this event is organised by the Singapore Maritime Foundation in partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) and Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI).

The inaugural event aims to encourage more Singaporeans to consider careers at sea – whether as a deck officer or marine engineer. It also highlights the career progression available, especially when those who have sailed before are in demand for shore-based roles in maritime companies here.

Mr Shankar, who pursued his Tripartite Nautical Training Award at the WMI, found his passion for sailing while completing his National Service in the Republic of Singapore Navy. He went on to do various jobs in the F&B and hospitality industries after that, but was eventually still attracted by the well-structured progression pathway of a maritime career. At 25, he made a mid-career switch. His eventual goal is to become a ship captain, and he is currently embarking on the required courses and Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations.

While his family was supportive, his friends were “not so keen about the fact that seafarers have to spend a few months out at sea”. However, Mr Shankar pointed out that what most people do not know is the generous shore leave available.

“My work stops when I am not sailing,” he said. “Other than the period when I am preparing for my CoC examinations, my job lets me spend time with my family for three to four months uninterrupted.”

In addition, he is able to keep in touch daily with loved ones while on board his ship, where he is in charge of maintaining the lifesaving appliances and firefighting equipment as a Third Officer. Senior deck officers are in charge of navigating the ship, charting the ship’s route from port to port and overseeing the loading and discharging of cargo when the ship calls at a port, under the direction of the Captain.

AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE AT SEA

While Mr Shankar will be on hand to offer his firsthand experience at the forum, the exhibition provides the next best thing – the ability to experience life at sea, through three 360-degree virtual reality (VR) videos that can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets. Produced by Vostok VR, the videos feature popular influencer @elaineruimin and two deck and engine cadets, and cover the different roles available on a ship’s bridge and engine rooms, as well as its amenities.

“Careers at sea are often shrouded in mystery as life on board a vessel is not something you get to see every day. Little is known of what working on board a ship is like, not least to those onshore who might be curious to experience voyages like these,” said Mr Kenneth Chia, executive director of the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

“With the VR videos, we want viewers to have an authentic experience that would help paint a clearer idea of sailing as a viable career option. We hope that this raises awareness of such careers and provides guidance on the various opportunities in this industry.”

For Mr Vitaliy Nechaev, managing director of Vostok VR, shooting the VR videos on a voyage from Singapore to China was a memorable experience.

Said Mr Nechaev: “Waking up at 4am to film the time lapse of the sun rise in the open sea, chasing a cargo ship in the wide open sea to film the drone shots and overcoming the challenges of footage that had to be reshot because of the vibrations from the ship’s engine, stand out most for us in our work for these videos.”

A LOVE FOR THE SEA AND ENGINEERING

For Ms Phylicia Ku, 20, a career at sea was meant to be.

Ms Ku, an engine cadet at Cheng Xin ShipManagement and a forum panellist, pursued a Diploma in Marine Engineering at the SMA at Singapore Polytechnic. Her grandfather used to work on board ships and thereafter, in a company that supplies ship engine parts. He would often bring the young Ms Ku to his workshop where she discovered a “joy in dismantling and assembling gadgets that can make things function smoothly”.

Her family was initially worried, citing the fact that she would be a woman in a male-dominated environment.

Ms Ku proved her chops with an eight-month stint at sea, where she shadowed marine engineers daily to take soundings, do arc and gas welding, and maintain equipment such as the freshwater generator.

“I reassured my family that I have always been an independent girl and would not have issues taking care of myself. From my cadetship experience, my parents can see that I have learnt a lot on board – in terms of technical knowledge as well as soft skills. Seeing how much I look forward to joining my next ship, they ultimately supported my career choice.”

While she is enjoying her time at sea, Ms Ku knows that the maritime industry has opportunities that stretch inland as well.

“Our sailing experience is valued by Singapore maritime companies, and we are in high demand to take up key positions in office-based roles after we stop sailing,” she said. “In the next five to 10 years, I plan to still be in the maritime industry building my career and upgrading my knowledge by taking up more courses – when I am back on shore.”

CAREERS IN MARITIME

For those interested to find out more about careers in maritime, the Maritime Singapore Connect Office, a unit under SMF has launched the MSC website as a one-stop resource for students and jobseekers. Individuals can upload their resumes as an indication of their interest in internships or jobs, and maritime companies in Singapore can contact interested candidates whenever a suitable role arises.

The Careers at Sea & Beyond Forum and Exhibition is held on Sept 8 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Level Three. The exhibition (10am to 6pm) is at Room 325 to Room 326, while the forum (2pm to 3.30pm) is at Room 324. Forum registration begins at 1.30pm, and attendees may register online. The first 200 visitors who register for the forum will get a free maritime-themed Google Cardboard. There is no admission charge for the forum or exhibition.