4 months since I started working at sea 🫡

Good evening!

Now that the Working Holiday series has come to a close and I've finished writing articles about taking a break and my own way of thinking, I'd like to talk about my current job this time.

As I mentioned briefly in a previous article, I am currently working as a seafarer.

Before I knew it, three months had passed since I joined the company, and the fourth month is also coming to an end.

I've finally started to see the flow of the work, as well as its interesting aspects and difficulties, so this time I'd like to introduce "why I became a seafarer" and "what I've felt after actually working in this field."

Why I chose the job of a seafarer

"Why did you choose a job on a ship?"

I am often asked that.

There are several reasons.

First and foremost, it's because I love the sea.

I originally had a hobby of sea fishing, and I often went out to the sea on my days off.

In that context, the initial spark was thinking, "It would be interesting if I could do a job related to the sea."

And another reason is that I thought about the future era.

It is said that due to the evolution of AI, white-collar jobs will continue to decrease in the future.

Of course, I don't think all jobs will disappear, but administrative and intermediary roles will likely change significantly due to AI.

Personally, I feel that jobs that only act as intermediaries will become increasingly difficult in the future.

That is precisely why I wanted to acquire a skill in a job that requires human experience, judgment, and on-site response.

Furthermore, I have never suffered from motion sickness since I was young.

While there are parts of whether or not one is suited for a ship that you can only know by actually boarding, I thought this point was a major strength for me.

I really didn't get seasick

Right after I joined the company, my boss, the captain, told me this.

"The ones who say 'I don't get seasick' are the ones who get sick at first."

That might be true.

But the result was...

I really never got seasick even once (lol).

No matter how rough the sea was, I was fine, and the captain was actually surprised by that.

This was a bit unexpected even for me, but it has become a great asset for continuing this job.

Things I've learned since becoming a sailor

Since I started working on a ship, the biggest change is how I look at nature.

Before, I only looked at weather forecasts to see if it would be sunny or rainy.

But now, it has become a habit for me to look at weekly weather charts.

Wind direction.

Wind speed.

Pressure patterns.

Movement of fronts.

"The sea looks like it will be rough tomorrow."

"It should be easy to navigate with this wind."

I have started thinking about things like that naturally.

Furthermore, I am gradually acquiring knowledge unique to the sea, such as tides and currents.

I am still learning, but my awareness of nature has changed to a degree that cannot be compared to my former self.

There is a depth to even a single rope

In ship work, there are many situations where you handle ropes.

At first, I didn't even know how to tie them, but now I have gradually learned various knots and have become accustomed to handling them.

Rope work is knowledge that is useful not only on ships but also in outdoor activities like camping and fishing.

I can now tie a bowline knot in an instant 🪢

I think the fact that I am gaining more knowledge through my work that can also be applied to daily life is one of the interesting aspects of this job.

My current job is a sailor who can go home every day

When people hear the word sailor,

many people have the image of

a job where you live on the sea for months at a time.

In fact, that kind of working style is common on large ships and cargo ships.

On the other hand, I work on a small ship.

My main tasks are

• transporting passengers

• transporting supplies

• performing work at the port

and so on.

Therefore, I can go home every day.

Being a sailor while still being able to secure time with family and friends.

I feel this is a major appeal of my current workplace.

The impressive job of a tugboat

Currently, I am being allowed to study not only small vessels but also the work of tugboats little by little.

A tugboat is a vessel that supports large ships so they can safely dock and depart from port.

Although the hull is small, it has surprising horsepower.

It may look like a plain job at first glance, but it plays a very important role.

Because of that, there are also dangers.

Tremendous force is applied to the ropes that connect large ships and tugboats.

If by any chance a rope snaps or comes loose, the recoil causes the rope to fly like a bullet.

It is a world where a moment of carelessness can lead to a major accident.

That is precisely why I am always working while being conscious of safety.

Things you can only learn because it is a small vessel

On large ships,

• the deck department

• the engine department

are divided into separate responsibilities.

However, on a small vessel, you must understand both.

Not only the skill to operate the ship, but knowledge of the engine is also required.

Actually, I originally didn't have much interest in cars either, and I was a complete beginner regarding engines.

At first, it was all technical jargon and I didn't know what was what, but I have gradually come to understand how things work.

"Learning things I didn't know."

I feel the joy of it every day.

There is work even on days when I am not on the ship

Even though I am a sailor, I don't operate the ship every single day.

On days when I am not on the ship, I perform maintenance work.

For example,

• repairing ropes

• removing rust

• wiping oil around the engine

• cleaning

• painting

These are important tasks to keep the ship safe for continued use.

They may be humble tasks, but they are essential for safe navigation.

My next goal is to become a captain

It has been about 4 months since I joined the company.

There is still so much for me to learn.

Even so, my knowledge of the sea has definitely increased over these past few months.

And now, my goal is to

become a captain of a small vessel.

The skill to maneuver a ship.

The ability to read the weather.

Engine knowledge.

Safety management.

There is still a mountain of things to learn.

However, I want to work hard to become a full-fledged sailor while gaining experience one step at a time.

Conclusion

After finishing my working holiday in Australia, I started a new job as a sailor in a new environment.

It was a completely unknown world, but that is exactly why every day is fresh and a continuous learning experience.

Because this is a job dealing with nature, there are times when things do not go as planned.

However, I feel that the experience and knowledge gained from that are just as significant.

Moving forward, I want to continue working hard toward becoming a full-fledged sailor by deepening my knowledge about the sea, including ship handling techniques, radio communication, rope work, engine maintenance, weather, and ocean currents.

Thank you for reading until the end.

Next time, I will go back in time a little to talk about my days of being unemployed 🧘