Hi, my name is Alex and I am a seafarer. You might be curious about seafarers and so, I will share my experience and life as a seaman.
Before I dive in, let’s first explore the definition.
According to dictionary.com, a seafarer is an individual who routinely travels by sea or is a sailor.
With respect to the sailor, all sailors must conclude a contract with the shipowners for a certain time and must fulfill all the obligations set.
3. I get to make an impact, as shipping is very important in the life of any person since most of the goods that surround us are brought from abroad. However, no one thinks about how these goods are delivered, but everyone has their own life path. It is necessary to care about the vessel because as a seaman it becomes your second home. My job is to maintain the ship in good condition, which ultimately has positive implications on trade.
Now, that I have shared what I love most about being a seafarer, I will answer the most common question about ships and tell you more about the types of ships I have worked on.
“A ship is called a she because there is always a great deal of bustle around her; there is usually a gang of men about; she has a waist and stays; it takes a lot of paint to keep her good-looking; it is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep; she can be all decked out; it takes an experienced man to handle her correctly; and without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable. She shows her topsides, hiders her bottom and, when coming into port, always heads for the buoys.” - Glossophilia
In my experience as a seaman, I have worked on both merchant fleets and passenger fleets. It’s important to note that there is a difference with these shipping types. In fact, there is a merchant fleet for the transportation of various goods, for example, coal, corn, etc. With respect to the passenger fleet, it is used for transporting people. Each fleet has its own specifics of work. I was fortunate enough to feel the difference working on these different types of ships. Let’s now focus on the personality traits you’ll need to become a seafarer.
While my profession may seem romantic, in reality, it is a very hard job. I will now highlight some of the difficulties we face as seafarers.
To conclude, I am very glad that I have the opportunity to travel around the world thanks to my work as a seafarer. However, this wonderful job has a reverse side, sailors have to risk their lives, spend long periods away from home, as well as we have to adjust our personal lives to meet the demands of trade, travel, and transportation. Notwithstanding these risks, it’s totally worth it!
For more inspiration on my travels as a seaman, feel free to get in touch with me - https://www.instagram.com/alexlukianov/
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