Deck Cadet Laura Hanna Rounds (left) and Engine Cadet Penerope Louisa Tavuto.

“Patience is a virtue” is a proverb that seafarers live by. Waiting on watch, staying in anchorage, or observing loading is usual for a day of a seafarer. Days at sea could be mundane and even boring.

For deck Cadet Laura and engine Cadet Louisa, their patience was tested unequivocally in the last few months. Selected in November 2020, scheduled to start training in April 2021, caught in the 2nd wave of the pandemic, they had to wait until 5th July 2021 to board M.V New Guinea Chief. 

After several government health procedures, jabs, swabs, and a quarantine stay, they are finally on board.

It is not wrong to say that they will look at this experience as a positive one to prepare for some of the challenging days ahead.

Cadet training program

Alpha Pacific Navigation Pte Ltd. (APNL) in Lautoka sources and supplies South Pacific Island seafarers for shipping companies. APNL works closely with FMA to produce the best performing cadets for selection interviews. To be short-listed, good Academic results are a must, but discipline and attitude are expected as a key competence.

In this batch of selected cadets, both Laura and Louisa were among fourteen; 10 males and four females made up the highest intake since the inception of the training program in 2014.

Four male cadets commenced their onboard training in March this year.

Both Laura and Louisa worked for the local shipping companies briefly giving them the initial sea legs while waiting for their big opportunity.

Women in Maritime

Since its inception by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Fiji Maritime Academy, has promoted “Women in Maritime” and has been encouraging more females to join the Academy and the noble seafaring profession and this is one of FMA’s goals for the future as well. With less than 2% in the workforce and most of the females in the cruise industry hospitality departments, the shipping industry needs to encourage and facilitate women in seafaring.

For these new cadets, challenging days are ahead. They have been briefed, lectured, and even warned of what lies ahead for them.

Life at sea for anyone is not a walk in the park. Rough sea, lone times on watch, working with different nationalities, interaction with a limited number of people are a part and parcel of sea life.

They have been told to focus on the goals ahead. For the two girls, the immediate mission is to obtain the necessary sea experience for the Class 3 Watchkeeper Certificate of Competency (COC), for Laura, management level COC Master Class 1 and for Louise Engineer Class 1.

Mahesa Abeynayake
CEO/Director in Charge
Fiji Maritime Academy